“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.” - Hebrews 6:19

In the heat of a Florida summer, under the protection of the Mother of God, the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox League of the United States of America came together in Tampa for the 78th Annual UOL Convention, a gathering not just of chapters and officers, but of souls bound together by hope, service, and the living tradition of Christ’s Church.

The convention was hosted by the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Dover, Florida, where the local parishioners and clergy extended warm hospitality and deep spiritual welcome. From July 24–27, 2025, the faithful gathered under the spiritual guidance of both His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, who traveled from the Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook, New Jersey. Together with clergy and delegates from across the nation, they led the Church’s youth and senior leaders in four days of administrative sessions, spiritual enrichment, and - above all - prayer.

The convention opened in a spirit of joyful anticipation and solemn devotion. President of the UOL, Pani-matka Laryssa Charest, greeted all delegates and clergy with heartfelt words of welcome, emphasizing the sacred unity between chapters across the country and the vital importance of the League’s mission: “We come together not only to remember the past but to strengthen the future - to live out our faith and shine the light of Christ in every corner of our Church.”

At the heart of this year’s convention was the verse from Hebrews 6:19, the guiding theme: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” It was more than a theme - it became a spiritual mirror, inviting every delegate to reflect on what it means to be anchored in Christ, especially in a time when the storms of moral confusion, secularism, and global suffering rage around us.

The climax of the spiritual journey unfolded during the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olha, the grandmother of St. Volodymyr and the first Christian sovereign of Ukraine. 

Metropolitan Antony, addressing the faithful after the liturgy, spoke about the “urgency of anchoring our faith in the quiet strength of our spiritual predecessors - those silent, prayerful men and women of our Church who carried the flame of Orthodoxy through decades of hardship.” He called upon all present to honor the eternal precepts of the Orthodox faith, not only in name but in action.

Archbishop Daniel, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy with responses sung by the gathered delegates and local choir, offered reflections throughout the convention. In his address to the plenary body, he proclaimed: “An anchor is not a weight that holds us down - it is the strength that holds us steady. In our time, we need new harbors for our souls, places where the Gospel is not only heard, but lived. The Ukrainian Orthodox League must become that harbor again - built with prayer, humility, and bold Christian witness.”

“While visiting a harbor not long ago, I saw ships of all sizes at anchor. And I noticed something - the larger the ship, the deeper and heavier the anchor required. It is the same with our faith: the more we know, the more we have received, the more we are responsible to go deeper. As I told our youth at camp: ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ The more we grow in Christ, the more anchored we must become in His love, His truth, and His mercy.”

Both senior and junior UOL delegates conducted their respective business meetings and elected new national executive boards. On Saturday, July 26, following Vespers, Metropolitan Antony led the induction service for the newly elected officers, invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon their leadership. Among them, Dr. Natalie Bilynsky was installed as the President of the Senior UOL for the 2025 - 2026 term, offering words of commitment and vision.

In a joyful and symbolic act of continuity, Archbishop Daniel was appointed as Spiritual Father for the Senior UOL, and Rev. Fr. John Charest was appointed Spiritual Advisor for the Junior UOL.

The convention concluded with the Archpastoral Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Mission Parish. Local pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Harry Linsinbigler, welcomed Metropolitan Antony, clergy, and faithful with deep emotion: “It is a blessing beyond words that this humble parish was chosen to host the nation’s faithful. You bring with you not only banners and prayers, but the living presence of the Church.”

The liturgy was a beautiful symphony of voices - local choir members joining with UOL delegates from across the country in chants and prayers. Once again, Metropolitan Antony offered an inspired message:

“We must battle our spiritual blindness… We must open our eyes to see the world not as broken and divided, but as beloved and redeemable. In every refugee, every orphan, every wounded soul - we are called to see Christ. That is the true anchor of our faith.”

Throughout the convention, prayers were lifted not only for the delegates and Church ministries, but for the suffering people of Ukraine, for those enduring the horror of war, and for all nations plagued by violence, hatred, and injustice. With tears and solemn hearts, the delegates remembered that the sanctity of human life is not a political concept - it is the foundational truth of our Orthodox faith.

As Metropolitan Antony proclaimed in his reflection: “When we forget the image of God in our neighbor, we lose the anchor of our soul. We must be the voice of the voiceless, the comfort of the suffering, the light for those in darkness. This is our sacred call - not only as UOL members, but as followers of Jesus Christ.”

The 78th Annual Convention of the Ukrainian Orthodox League did not end with a banquet or a photo. It ended as it began: with prayer and purpose. One by one, the delegates departed from Florida, returning to their respective parishes carrying not only reports and plans, but renewed zeal, spiritual fire, and a firm commitment to anchor their souls in Christ.

They carry with them the voice of the Church, the wisdom of the saints, and the call to proclaim:

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul…”

And through the sacred work of the UOL, may that hope remain firm and secure for generations to come.