Devon church to host Ukrainian Christmas service

Orthodox Christmas Day is Saturday

A group of Ukrainian women and children living in Devon are planning a Ukrainian Christmas service this week at one of the county’s most picturesque churches.

St Michael de Rupe, on Brentor, is part of the Tavy Mission Community and the first church on the Devon Pilgrim Archangel’s Way.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on Saturday 7 January.

St Michael is the patron saint of Kyiv, which is why the church of St Michael de Rupe has special significance for the community of Ukrainian families living in or near Tavistock.

Rev’d Dr Hazel Buckland, who is helping to plan the service, said “We realised St Michael’s was attracting a lot of Ukrainian visitors, so we held a special service at Michelmas (the feast day of St Michael).

“Helen, the churchwarden, then realised that the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on 7 January and so we asked the families if they would like to hold a Christmas service and they said yes please!”

Tania Kovalchuk is a translator who has lived in Tavistock since before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and is one of the people organising the service. 

She said: “There are now more than 30 Ukrainian families living in Tavistock area who are warmly welcomed by their supportive host families.
“I was very happy when Hazel contacted me at the beginning of December and suggested to organise us a Christmas Service for our Orthodox Christmas. 

"I was surprised how much she knew about our Orthodox Christmas, and how profoundly Hazel approached preparation for this day to make it very special to all of us - because celebrating Christmas is a very big and important holy day for Ukrainians. 

“We are all so much looking forward to this day. Around 20 families are expected to come, and they have invited to this service their hosts families and friends, as well as several people from Tavistock who were there for us all this year. 

Saturday’s service will include readings and prayers in Ukrainian and English and a small choir singing songs, including the Ukrainian Carol of the Bells in Ukrainian.

It will be recorded and uploaded to YouTube so it can be shared further afield, particularly with family members still in Ukraine.

Tania said: “Hazel has thought of every detail to make this service accessible and inclusive for all people - There will be Bible readings in Ukrainian, and easy-to-read Ukrainian and British carols, a Prayer for Ukraine by people from the church and by Ukrainians. 

“Our children have prepared a small nativity play that they will perform at the service. We have been rehearsing, planning and preparing well. 
“We will all cook and bring some of our traditional food to share with British people at the end of the service to show our traditions and culture as well as our greatest appreciation to British people for everything they do for us.