Three Bishops Officiate on the Transfiguration in Odessa

Three bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia officiated on the Transfiguration at the Odessa Church of Archistratig Michael: His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney and the Australia-New Zealand Diocese, His Grace Bishop Ambroise of Geneva and Western Europe, and the Ruling Bishop of the Crimean Diocese, His Grace Bishop Agathangel.

Archbishop Hilarion and Bishop Ambroise arrived in Odessa as part of a pilgrimage of 46 people, all members of the Church Abroad, who are traveling throughout the cities of Ukraine. This is the first large pilgrimage of expatriates to our country. Before their arrival in Odessa, the pilgrims went to Zaporozhie, where they prayed at divine liturgy in Holy Dormition Church (Priest Vladimir Pavlenko, rector).

The pilgrims spent two days in Odessa, 18 and 19 August. On the first day of their visit, the guests worshiped at the Church of Archistratig Michael during the vigil for the Transfiguration, and then partook of the Holy Gifts during divine liturgy. His Grace Bishop Ambroise gave a sermon on the feast day. After service, the visitors were offered a trapeza luncheon. Later that day, the pilgrims departed by boat to the Crimea. (Photo: Archbishop Hilarion and Bishop Ambroise speak with an Odessa journalist.)