Pokrov (Holy Protection of the Mother of God) Ukrainian Orthodox Congregation of Boussoit celebrates its 60th Anniversary
The Anniversary celebrations began at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, October 19, 2008.
His Grace Bishop Andriy celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Very Rev. Fr. Borys Khajnevskyj, who once served this parish from 1972 to 1982, and now serves in France. The choir consisted of singers from the church under the direction of Dr. Volodymyr Kotlyar, president of the congregation.
During the Liturgy His Grace Bishop Andriy delivered the sermon and gave an icon of St. Nicholas to Fr. Borys in commemoration of this special day. In the sermon His Grace stressed the importance of the Pokrov’s feast for glorious Zaporozhian Cossacks and for the entire Ukrainian nation.
After the Liturgy Fr. Borys and His Eminence Archbishop Ioann, who was also present during the celebration, delivered short speeches to the faithful.
Ladies from the parish's Association served dinner to about 40 guests at the parish hall. His Grace and Fr. Borys initialled the afternoon festivities in prayer.
A congratulatory message from the parish was delivered by Dr. Kotlyar. He gave a short but inspirational speech congratulating the parish’s members for maintaining their church and its functions for such a long time.
Other congratulatory messages were delivered by Ivan Zayets and Pavlo Movchan, National Deputies of Ukraine, who came to Boussoit together with representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy in Brussels.
His Eminence Archbishop Ioann gave a brief history of the Boussoit Orthodox parish citing its beginning in 1948 with the first service held in the church on July 4, 1948, and celebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Ivan Bachynskyj. The consecration of the church building was on September 12, 1948. His Eminence then commemorated Mr. Hryhoriy Kotlyar, former president of the congregation, the founders and supporters of the church and its former priests.
At the end of dinner, His Eminence Archbishop Ioann, on behalf of the church, thanked everybody from far and near that came to help them celebrate this occasion.
The members of the Pokrov parish thank everybody that attended this celebration as well as those that participated. May God bless you all!!!
