Archbishop Daniel Visits Ukrainian Orthodox Community in Ulm, Germany

Even though the Second World War ended 72 years ago, memories of those tragic days are still alive. Rebuilt structures and post-war buildings remain as concrete memorial to the efforts to bringing peace to the post-war Europe.

A small town of Ulm, Germany is a home to the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord Ukrainian Orthodox parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora under the spiritual omophorion of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony. This particular parish community is located in the America-built barracks of the US Armed forces. In fact, the very place of worship is located on the second floor of old barracks of US Military Judge Advocate General (JAG), where the court house was located until the departure of US Armed forces from the area. Having obtained a permission to occupy the space, Ukrainian Orthodox community was established in 1940s and for many years was served by various priests from Ukraine, among whom was Metropolitan Anatoliy (Dubliansky), who served the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful in Europe until his repose in 1997.

For the past twenty years, Very Rev. Valentyn Gawryluk serves the needs not only the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful, but also people of various ethnic backgrounds that come through the doors of the parish’s small church space.

On Saturday, October 7, 2017 the parish was formally visited by His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, present hierarch of the Western Europe Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, Vladyka Daniel visited the parish and served a Memorial service at the gravesite of Metropolitan Anatoliy of blessed memory.

Warmly welcoming the archpastor to the parish on a cold Saturday morning, in front of the old barracks building, parishioners and children of the community presented Vladyka with a bouquet of flowers, and traditional bread and salt.

Very Rev. Fr. Valentyn Gawryluk, assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Vlaentyn Smoktynowych of the Protection of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Munich, Germany, and Rev. Fr. Mykhaylo Buk greeted the archpastor with the words of sincere welcome, reflecting upon the legacy and historical significance of the location, considering that Archbishop Daniel lives in the US and served as chaplain in the US Army.

During the Liturgy, which was served by present clergy, Vladyka Daniel delivered a sermon reflecting upon the calling of a Christian in the modern world, stating that the least among us can be a vehicle that God can use to bring justice and healing to all of God's disadvantaged daughters and sons all over the world.

The liturgical responses of the service were chanted by the choir members of the local parish and visitors from the Ukrainian Orthodox mission in Frankfurt.

In conclusion of the service, the entire congregation processed the local cemetery, where a Memorial service was help at the gravesite of Metropolitan Anatoliy of blessed memory and at the main monument of the cemetery’s section for Ukrainians that offered their lives in the service of the ancestral homeland.

The day concluded with a luncheon in a local community restaurant, where the faithful had a chance to visit the hierarch and each other.