UOC prays for the victims of shelling in Sumy Region on May 5–6

Illustrative Photo: pravmir

In the churches and monasteries of the Sumy Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, special prayers are being offered for those who perished and suffered as a result of the massive shelling of the Sumy region on May 5–6, 2025. According to the press service of the Sumy Eparchy, May 7–8 have been declared Days of Mourning in the Sumy urban community.

On these days, the clergy and faithful pray for the repose of the souls of the innocently killed, for the healing of the wounded, and for peace in the Sumy region and all of Ukraine. During the services, special petitions will be offered for the newly departed, for the sick and the suffering, and memorial services (panikhidas) will be conducted.

"The Holy Church, together with the entire Ukrainian people, prayerfully sympathizes with every family that has lost loved ones and calls upon everyone not to lose faith, but to overcome evil through love and mercy. Eternal memory to all the departed. Lord, have mercy on us and grant peace to Ukraine!" – the message reads.

Metropolitan Yevlogiy of Sumy and Okhtyrka, in his address on Facebook, expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The hierarch reminded that on May 5–6, 36 settlements came under Russian fire. Five civilians were killed, eight were wounded, including a 16-year-old boy.

On the evening of May 6, Russia launched a new strike on the suburbs of Sumy. Residential houses were destroyed, as well as the newly constructed St. John the Theologian Church. This strike proved especially tragic: the Russians took the lives of a 6-year-old boy, a 20-year-old woman, and a 41-year-old man. Nine more were injured: five children and six adults are in medical facilities. Two of them are in critical condition.

"When children, young people, and parents die – life itself suffers. These are not just losses – this is the despair of a nation. These are tears falling to the ground along with our prayer. Our collective prayer is for the repose of the souls of the innocently slain, for physical and spiritual healing of the wounded, for peace and protection for all residents of Sumy region," wrote Metropolitan Yevlogiy.

As previously reported by the UOJ, on the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, ballistic missiles from Russia fell just a few hundred meters from the Sumy Cathedral, taking the lives of dozens. Metropolitan Yevlogiy of Sumy sharply condemned the missile strike on the city center. According to him, Russian missiles claimed the lives of 20 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

Read also