On Tuesday, clergy from the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania held a memorial service for the victims of the war in Ukraine, marking three years since the conflict began.
The commemoration took place at the “Elevation of the Holy Cross” Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Sighetu Marmației, Maramureș County, where priests from the Sighetu Marmației Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery led prayers.
At the end of the service, Rev. Vicar Nicolae Lauruc and Dean Petru Rahovan recited prayers for peace in Ukraine in both Ukrainian and Romanian.
Teachers and students from the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Pedagogical High School in Sighetu Marmației also attended the memorial.
Support for War-Affected Communities
Since the first days of the war, the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate has been actively involved in supporting refugees and organizing humanitarian aid collections that have reached conflict zones and frontline areas in Ukraine.
Students and teachers from the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian High School have also contributed by helping prepare humanitarian shipments after their classes.
Additional memorial services will be conducted in churches throughout the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate from February 17 to February 24, 2025, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania.
About the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate
The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate was established by the Romanian Patriarchate to serve the Ukrainian Orthodox community in Romania, where around 80% of ethnic Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians.
Religious services within the Vicariate are conducted in Ukrainian by clergy from the local community.
Led by Vicar Nicolae Lauruc, the Vicariate represents over 30,000 Ukrainian Orthodox believers in Romania, primarily in northern and western regions such as Maramureș, Crișana, Transylvania, and Banat.
In 2025, the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate marks 35 years since its re-establishment.
Photo: Facebook / Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate
