Wonderworking Boyany Icon honored in Bukovyna
A solemn open-air Divine Service was held at the Boyany Monastery.
On September 25, 2025, celebrations dedicated to the Wonderworking Boyany Icon of the Mother of God took place at the Boyany Women’s Monastery, reports a UOJ correspondent.
The festive Divine Liturgy, served in the open air, was led by Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi. Concelebrating with him were Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny, Bishop Nikita of Ivano-Frankivsk, Metropolitan Euseviy of Shepetivka and Slavuta, Archbishop Siluan of Hertsa, Bishop Kleopa of Novoselytsia, together with clergy of the UOC. Thousands of faithful prayed at the service, having arrived the day before in a cross procession from Chernivtsi.
“Surely each of us from our own experience knows what the protection of the Most Pure Virgin Mary means. And today, when with our bodily eyes we behold this wonderworking image, glorified and significant for our native land, we bow our hearts and our heads before the Mother of God, asking that She may always be present in our lives,” Metropolitan Meletiy said after the service.
He emphasized that the Boyany wonderworking image is venerated throughout the world.
“On this day we thank God, we thank His Most Pure Mother, the Theotokos, for the mercies we have. Today is a difficult time, and this calls us to pray all the more fervently and earnestly to the Most Holy Virgin. And we know that by Her intercession, by Her prayers, we will endure all these trials, troubles, and upheavals. We shall endure, and the Lord will grant us His blessing, His grace, and His mercy,” the metropolitan concluded.
For his part, Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny stressed that today “we live in times when it is necessary to suffer a little for God, for our faith.”
“We are all sinners, all guilty before God. But thanks be to God, Who has strengthened us in the faith and has not allowed you to lose our souls. We have long striven to be faithful to Heaven. Today the time has come. The people of God are born through the Mother of God. The Savior is born for our salvation. For the time has come when the Lord has seen that everything among the people is wavering and faith is collapsing,” the hierarch underlined.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Bukovyna a cross procession was held in honor of the wonderworking Boyany Icon.
