In the Cherkasy region, all the city's parishes are members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Smila became the first city in Ukraine where not just individual parishes, but all five parishes together made their choice in favor of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The Divine Liturgy was conducted at the Holy Protection Cathedral in Smila by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphaniy. He visited Cherkasy Oblast to express gratitude to the parishioners who decided to switch to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine last year.

The rector of the cathedral, Father Petro Dmytruk, told the media that Smila became the first city in Ukraine where all five parishes collectively made their decision in favor of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The decision to switch, made in March 2022, was not an easy one for the parishioners:

"They struggled with this decision. We were used to one thing, and now we had to switch to another. It was not easy to break away from that influence. However, since the Moscow Patriarch blessed the destruction of our cities and villages, we could no longer remain with him. The faithful were divided in half: one half left, and the other half stayed with us."

This community is set to serve as an example for others, as emphasized by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphaniy:

"The unification process continues, and gradually more communities are joining our local Ukrainian Orthodox Church. And this is happening not only in villages but also in large cities. I saw joyful and smiling faces. It shows that people feel this spiritual joy and upliftment in the church, because together, during these challenging times, we lift our prayers to God and ask for our victory."