Resolutions by the Seventy-third session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv- Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC

1. For refinement of pastoral care in the realm of confession:

А.   To request His Beatitude Sviatoslav:

1) to create a working group for writing the projects of epistles to the clergy and faithful from the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC  regarding the topic of the Holy Sacrament of Penance and submitting them for review at the next session of the Synod;

2) authorize the Patriarchal Committee on Matters of Laity to develop a unified Curriculum for the seminarian subject "Confession and Spiritual Guidance" as well as criteria and typical examples for holding a  jurisdictional examination for the graduates from seminaries.

B.    Authorize the working group for implementation of the UGCC Development Strategy 2020 "Living Parish as a Meeting Place with Living Christ" to  study and submit to eparchial bishops the learning materials for the courses of constant formation of priests regarding the issue of the  Holy Sacrament of Penance.

C.   Recommend that the eparchial Bishops of Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC:

1) hold educational courses of constant formation for the clergymen regarding the Holy Sacrament of Penance in 2017 AD, on the basis of learning materials, submitted by the working group for implementation of the UGCC development Strategy;

2) during canonical visitations of parishes pay a special attention to the practice of granting the Holy Sacrament of Penance by the priests;

3) engage successful missionaries of  grace in monitoring the quality of preparing priests and performing the Holy Sacrament of Penance in eparchies and exarchates of the Supreme Archbishopric.

D. Authorize the rectors of UGCC spiritual seminaries to ensure appropriate spiritual and intellectual training for the seminarians' confessors and encourage the seminarians for mature acceptance of the Holy Sacrament of Penance as a powerful means for personal sanctification and important element in preparing for the future administering the Holy Sacrament of Penance.

2.  For improving social ministry in Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC:

А.  Take into account the report about the current situation in the social ministry in the Supreme Archbishopric.

B.  Ask the eparchial bishops of the Supreme Archbishopric to appoint in their eparchies and exarchates those who would be responsible for social ministry.

C. Authorize eparches and administrators of parishes in the Supreme Archbishopric to appoint in every parish a person responsible for social ministry.

3. Adopt with proposed amendments and additions the Letter of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC regarding the threats of gender ideology.

4. Adopt the report about holding the Holy Year of Mercy in the Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC.

5. For due honoring of the 420th anniversary of Beresteyska Union, on December 15, 2016, celebrate thankful Liturgies in all the churches of Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC for the gift of unity for our Church, with  reinforced praying for the unity of the Churches of Volodymyr's baptizing and for the well-being of God's holy Churches and for the unity of all. 

6. Appoint Mitered Archpriest Oleksa Petriv Secretary of Synod of Bishops of Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of UGCC for the next three-year long statutory period.

7. Hold the seventy-forth session of Synod of Kyiv Galician Supreme Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in January 2017 AD.

These resolutions come into force on December 1, 2016 AD

The Head of the Synod:                                     His Beatitude Sviatoslav  (Shevchuk)