In Florence, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary since the establishment of the parish the new iconostasis was dedicated

Thursday, 22 November 2012, 09:24

On 18th of November 2012, the faithful people of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which is based in Florence, marked the tenth anniversary since the establishment of the community. The Festive Liturgy that day was headed by two Ukrainian Bishops: Dionysiy (Lyakhovych), who is the Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Italy and Spain, and Glib (Lonchyna), who is the Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in the United Kingdom, - as well as, His Eminence Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, who is the Archbishop of Florence, to whom the UGCC Community is territorially subjected.

The Divine Liturgy became the grand thanksgiving prayerand the social holiday for Ukrainians and their Italian guests. Five Italian and six Ukrainian priests, who concelebrated, were: the chaplain for the faithful people in Florence, Fr. Volodymyr Voloshyn, as well as Fr. Serhiy Shvahlo from Lviv, Fr. Taras Halavay from Modena, Fr. Makariy Ivanyshyn from Rome, Fr. Mykhaylo Khromyanchuk from Reggio Emilia, Fr. Volodymyr Lyupak from Pisa. Prior to the Divine Liturgy the iconostasis was consecrated, it was produced in Lviv for the Florentine church of the Holy Apostles St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude Thaddeus. It was brought from Ukraine and was installed in a medieval church, which became the center of Ukrainian religious and cultural life in Florence.

The iconostasis was fixed with the permission of corresponding religious and secular authorities of the city. Such artists as Anatoliy and Viktor Melnyk, Zenoviy Menshykh and Andriy Yarema are the authors of the iconostasis. When projecting the iconostasis, into the consideration were also taken the interior features of the church, thus, it is in harmony with the works of famous Tuscan sculptors and artists.

The new iconostasis became a symbol of cross-cultural understanding and exchange. And for the Ukrainians, who are residing in Florence, it is a great reminder of the doors leading to heaven. Anniversary celebration ended with the joint dinner and the program of entertainment, which was prepared by group of musicians and singers from Milan.

The report made by Oleh Petruk