In April 2018, a delegation from the Dnipro Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) carried the Holy Fire from the Holy Sepulchre back to Ukraine, marking the first occasion this sacred flame was escorted by the UOC-KP representatives. Made possible by supporters of the Ukrainian Church, this event foreshadowed the Tomos of Autocephaly in early 2019.
Since independence, Ukraine has celebrated numerous triumphs, spanning military, sports, cultural, and scientific victories. They all were achieved despite resistance from our "sworn neighbor" and our own internal hesitations, doubts, and the national insecurities they’ve tried to impose. A standout among these victories is the Tomos of Autocephaly awarded to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in January 2019 – an achievement that seemed far-fetched just a year prior. Considering Moscow's political clout, its influence in the Orthodox community, and its relentless efforts to keep Ukraine within its spiritual "embrace," it appeared that we might wait decades for church independence.
Contrary to these expectations, the breakthrough came within months, at least from the perspective of an average Ukrainian tuning into the news. Discussions around granting the Tomos to the Ukrainian Church gained momentum in spring 2018, following the Easter holidays, notably after the Verkhovna Rada's April 19 resolution appealing to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. This resolution followed extensive, albeit low-profile, diplomatic dialogues. Now, five or six years on, with the Tomos a part of history, we can appreciate the full significance of these events, not fully understood at the time. Among them was the delivery of the Holy Fire from Jerusalem to Ukraine on Holy Saturday, April 7, 2018—for the first time by a delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate. The Holy Fire’s initial stop was Dnipro, before it spread its light to the capital and beyond.
How does this event tie into the acquisition of the Tomos? Primarily, it's important to recognize that the distribution of the Holy Fire is a deeply entrenched tradition among Orthodox countries. The emergence of the holy light near the Holy Sepulchre signals the Resurrection of Christ, with the fire's spread symbolizing the dissemination of this joyful and hopeful news for Christians. Historically, in Ukraine, the Moscow Patriarchate has used this event for self-promotion, enjoying privileged access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem via the Russian Orthodox Church's connections. However, 2018 marked a pivotal shift due to the endeavors of the Dnipro benefactors supporting the Kyiv Patriarchate.
On April 6, 2018, a UOC-KP delegation, featuring Archpriest Vitaliy Lopushansky from the Dnipro Diocese and prominent philanthropists Oleksandr Petrovsky and Emil Harutyunyan, flew to Jerusalem on a private plane. Prior to their departure, the pilgrims prayed before the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" at Dnipro's main diocesan church, receiving blessings from Bishop Simeon (Zinkevych) of Dnipro.
Oleksandr Petrovsky and Emil Harutyunyan, celebrated for their philanthropy within religious communities in Dnipro, hold the highest honors from both the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Their years of dedication to fostering external interfaith relations for the UOC-KP, particularly with the Jerusalem Patriarchate and other ancient Eastern Christian churches, have been commendable. At that juncture, their involvement also extended to discussions with Constantinople regarding the Tomos. They self-financed the histolgrimage, fully aware of its significance in strengthening the prestige of the Ukrainian Church.
On Good Friday, inhabitants of Dnipro embarked on a pilgrimage to the Christian holy sites located within the Old City of Jerusalem around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. By the morning of Holy Saturday, the UOC-KP's delegates made their way to the venue of the principal ceremony. Their route to the Holy Sepulchre ran through the Armenian Quarter, one of the Old City's four historic quarters. Near the Armenian St. James Church, the travelers encountered representatives from the Armenian Apostolic Church. For Emil Harutyunyan, this encounter was poignant, as it was here his son had been baptized years before.
Delegation of the UOC of the Kyiv Patriarchate in Jerusalem on April 7, 2018. From left to right: Emil Harutyunyan, Oleksandr Petrovsky, Vitaliy Lopushansky
Armenian clerics guided the Ukrainian group to the Tomb of Jesus, the sacred site where the Holy Fire is bestowed. Despite the complex reations between Ukraine and Armenia, a notable event had unfolded a month prior, in March 2018: Karekin II, the Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, visited Dnipro. He dedicated the St. Gregor Lusavorich Armenian Church, the largest in Eastern Europe, built with Oleksandr Petrovsky’s backing. Both Petrovsky and Harutyunyan played pivotal roles in organizing the historic pastoral visit of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church to Dnipro, thus establishing friendly ties with this influential Eastern Christian community.
Friends from Jerusalem secured a spot for the Ukrainian pilgrims inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, right beside the window where the Holy Fire would emerge. At three o'clock, the anticipated miracle of the fire's descent occurred. Father Vitaliy Lopushansky passed candles bearing the new flame; Oleksandr Petrovsky and Emil Harutyunyan then used them to light all three Dnipro lamps. United, they proceeded to Tel Aviv airport.
The descent of the Holy Fire on April 7, 2018
"We are happy to witness the descent of the Holy Fire. Bringing it to our blessed city of Dnipro fills us with joy. Glory to the Dnipro!" exclaimed Oleksandr Petrovsky.
Holy Fire on Ukrainian soil
At 19:20, the patrons' private plane landed in Dnipro, with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate representatives onboard, marking the first time they brought the Holy Fire to Ukraine. Upon arrival, the group promptly headed to the church dedicated to the Unexpected Joy icon, finding a crowd of people on Sichovykh Striltsiv Street, including many military veterans and chaplains from the war with Russia, all eager to transport the Holy Fire to soldiers in Eastern Ukraine.
Bishop Simeon (Zinkevich) of Dnipro was there to welcome the delegates, expressing gratitude for the sacred flame retrieved from the Holy Sepulchre. Among those present was Mykola Salabai, rector of the Church of the Nativity in Podil, who took the holy flame from Dnipro to Kyiv. The Armenian Church of St. Hryhor Lusavorich community in Dnipro also received the Holy Fire from Jerusalem. However, the handover at the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Dnipro, featuring the participation of Honored Artist of Ukraine Oksana Petrovska and her son Oleksandr, was particularly touching.
Oleksandr and Oksana Petrovsky, April 7, 2018
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary church complex, built in 2012 through the efforts of Oleksandr Petrovsky’s Solidarity International Charitable Foundation, gained a new baptismal chapel in Easter 2018, crafted from wood and decorated with an iconostasis.
Media reports from the time highlight that almost 7 million Ukrainians participated in Easter services in 2018, with significant turnouts in the Lviv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Dnipro regions. Dnipro has seen a consistent increase in church engagement over the years, a trend that continued to grow.
The arrival of the Holy Fire in Dnipro in 2018 sparked immense joy among the faithful and strengthened their confidence in the pursuit of the Tomos of Autocephaly for the Ukrainian church. This event was an important milestone towards Church autonomy, raising the authority of the Kyiv Patriarchate, which later became the foundation for the Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The April 7, 2018, initiative also demonstrated the resolve within Ukraine to shoulder the future of the Ukrainian church.
