In Chernihiv, you can baptize a child online: here's how and why this is happening (video).

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, some churches in the city of Chernihiv have offered the option to conduct child baptisms remotely. This is reported by the resource Cheline.

According to Father Roman (Kinika), the rector of the Cathedral of St. Great Martyr Catherine, in certain instances he had to perform the baptism ceremony via video call. This was explained by the priest of the OCU, as some relatives or godparents were on the front lines at that time.

"There are moments when parents want to have a godparent, but the godparent is currently at the front, fighting for Ukraine. There were times when we simply turned on the phone when the godparent was available, and here, on the spot, was the godparent's wife holding the phone, so he was also present at the baptism," said the rector of the Catherine Church.

Father Roman assures that this method of baptism can be considered complete, as all necessary religious canons are followed; even online, the person is spiritually involved in the sacrament. Later, when the godparent returns, he will be able to hold the child and share his love and warmth.

Recall that in the fall, frescoes depicting local businessmen were noticed on the walls of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Lutsk. The Volyn diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine explained that the tradition of decorating church interiors with portraits of major patrons has existed since the Byzantine era. In turn, Metropolitan Dmytro Rudyuk of Lviv and Sokalsky OCU stated that parishioners should look at the holy heavenly beings, not at local entrepreneurs.