Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail blesses the foundation stone of a church to be built at the Sanzheika village near Odessa

On May 3, 2007, Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail visited the Sanzheika village near Odessa to bless the foundation stone for a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the press service of the Odessa diocese has reported.

The numerous faithful met Metropolitan Agafangel with a traditional round loaf and flowers. Accompanied by the bell-ringing, the metropolitan came up to the foundation pit and blessed the foundation stone. He put a part of the relics of St. Vladimir the Metropolitan of Kiev and a certificate indicating the day of this significant event into a special capsule. Then he and Ukrainian war veteran S. Strebko laid down the capsule in the foundation of the church.

Metropolitan Agafangel addressed the congregation, noting that after the long decades of theomachism and repression, society is turning to God. An evidence to it is the construction of this church. ‘We put into its foundation a part of the relics of St. Vladimir the Metropolitan of Kiev, who martyred at the hands of theomachists. I believe that from now on the intercession of this glorious new martyr of Russia will stay with this land of plenty, helping people in their work for the good of Holy Orthodoxy. The construction of churches is an evidence of our faith in the Risen Saviour of the world’, Metropolitan Agafangel said.

DECR Communication Service