Church to hold epiphany event for Ukrainians in Dorchester

The Dorford Centre on Bridport Road in Dorchester is hosting a meal for Ukrainians and refugees from other countries on Sunday, January 7 to mark Epiphany from 3pm to 5pm.

Epiphany is a Christian holiday, with popularity in Orthodox and Eastern Christian culture, and symbolises the three kings visiting Jesus.

It is sometimes referred to as Three Kings’ Day.

Last year, when the event was previously held, children were dressed in their national costume performing traditional songs and dancing. A tea party and games followed the procession.

Cllr Janet Hewitt, Dorchester town councillor for the west ward and former mayor of the county town, has been involved with resettling Ukrainian people in the area since the invasion by Russian forces to the country in February 2021.

Along with other volunteers, Cllr Hewitt has also held a collection centre at the Prince Of Wales School in Dorchester to send ‘truckloads’ of items for people in need to the country at the start of the invasion.

 She said: “I’ve been very involved with these lovely people in their hard time of need, and my heart always goes out to them.”

Cllr Hewitt went on to say that the people attending these meetings have been settled in the country for up to a year and a half, but some have only come into the area in the last few months, missing their first festive period in the country.

She said: “We started inviting them to coffee mornings and we had a range of languages spoken from Ukrainian, Russian and Polish.

“With the help of Citizens Advice we have helped mothers secure jobs, and children get into schools whilst the men have been left to fight in Ukraine,” she added.

The church also holds weekly coffee meetings for resettled people in the third Friday of every month.

Cllr Hewitt said: “We get together, chat, share experiences together and it really is a great atmosphere.”

For more information call the centre on 01305 262045.