Dear Friends,

Just a note to report that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, has glorified two local Saints in Ukraine and glorified a new Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God.

The Venerable St. Amphilochius Holovatiuk, Monk of Pochayiv, was glorified, his icon and service approved by Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan.

I have yet to obtain further information about his Life.

In Chernihiv, at the women's monastery of St George, the Icon of the Danyivska Mother of God was glorified as miracle-working.

This icon was commissioned to be written by St John of Kronstadt and was blessed by him.

St John then passed it on to St Seraphim Vyritsky, who, in 1937, reposed before it just as St Seraphim of Sarov reposed before his miraculous icon, the "Joy of all Joys" i.e. with his head leaning forward, touching the icon.

At Lviv, St Nicephorus Cantacuzenos, the Great Protosyngellos and Exarch of the Partriarch of Constantinople for Ukraine was glorified as a local saint.

He was a Greek sent to Ukraine to try and stop the Union of Brest-Litovsk.

He was very holy and very popular among the people. He was arrested by the RC authorities and kept out of the way, and was starved to death.

Ukrainian Orthodox have always venerated his memory.

His icon and Life can be found at:

http://www.orthodox.org.ua/win/life/nikifor.html

Alex