His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, visited Varash, the satellite town of the Rivne NPP, as part of his Primatial Visit.
Together with the clergy of the Rivne Eparchy, Metropolitan Epiphanius celebrated a Divine Liturgy for peace and victory at St. Sophia Church, attended by hundreds of worshippers. Among those taking part in the festive service were Pavlo Kovtoniuk, Acting CEO of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”, Directors General of Ukraine’s NPPs, and Oleksandr Koval, Head of the Rivne Regional Military Administration.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the believers prayed for the health and well-being of all Ukrainians, especially the defenders who safeguard the country, its freedom, and its people every day, as well as for the repose of the souls of the fallen military and all civilians whose lives have been taken by the war.
Pavlo Kovtoniuk expressed his sincere gratitude to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine for his unwavering support for the Ukrainian people during this difficult period, his openness to cooperation, his willingness to help, and his spiritual leadership, which strengthens the faith, unity, and resilience of Ukrainian society.
Following the prayer, Metropolitan Epiphanius presented awards of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to ten employees of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”. Nataliia Vashetina and Bohdan Shmyhelskyi, representatives of the company’s Headquarters, were awarded the Order of Saint Nicholas. Employees of the Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Zaporizhzhia, and South Ukraine NPPs received the Order of the Archistrategos Michael, the Order of Saint Equal-to-Apostle Princess Olga, and the Medal of the Archistrategos Michael.
The visit also included a joint prayer at the Holy Protection Chapel of the Rivne Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, located on the site of the Rivne NPP.
