"Preaching of Peace is especially needed where a threat to peace is possible" - the Head of UGCC

Monday, 13 January 2014, 14:04

People in the square turned to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and other churches asking to be with them and pray together. Indeed, at a time when the lack of dialogue between the government and the citizens who believe in God feel a special need to strengthen the prayer for peace and tranquility in our country, the cessation of violence and trampling the dignity and the constitutional rights of the citizens of Ukraine .

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This was stated by His Beatitude Svyatoslav ( Shevchuk), Father and Head of the UGCC, during a press conference at the " Ukrainian News " 13 January 2014.

In this case, the hierarch said that such behavior of priests is an embodiment of ideas expressed by Pope Francis in his last year's message, " The Joy of the Gospel " that pastors need to be with people, because "a pastor should have the smell of his sheep ."

During the press conference the declaration of the head of the UGCC on the letter of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine on the grounds for termination of Religious Organizations Church was made public.

His Beatitude Svyatoslav said that for the first time since the independence of Ukraine the threat " on the termination of the respective religious organizations" was voiced. This is stated in an official letter to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine from 03.01.2014 (№ 1/3/13-14) signed by First Deputy Minister Timofiy Kokhan (see attached) .

The reason for such a reaction of the government is a religious activity , which is allegedly executed by " the representatives , in particular of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, on Independence Square in Kyiv during December of last year and in the new – 2014, to violate the law of Ukraine on freedom of conscience and religious organization".

The Head of UGCC said that the Church is not a member of the political process , but it can not stand by when its faithful ask for spiritual care . To be with his faithful is the priest duty , which is connected with the very mission of the Church .

"Our church has always been true to this mission that Christ entrusted to our Church and will remain so for the future and despite any threats ," - stressed the Head.

Speaking of the official position of the UGCC on the actual socio-political situation, His Beatitude Svyatoslav said that it is described in a number of applications , both on behalf of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, andcommon with the members of AUCCRO.

In response to the official letter from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the His Beatitude Svyatoslav said that the Church is not taking part in political events, but it "can not stay away when faithful ask for spiritual care," which includes presence at the Square .

"Our Church has always been true and will remain so to the mission that Christ the Savior entrusted to the church, despite all the threats. We thought that the time of repression has passed, but letters like this leave room for doubt. We are not ashamed of our presence on the Maidan and will remain there "- said the head of the UGCC . We currently do not known if such letters were received by other churches or religious organizations.

The last time UGCC "was removed from the (state) registrar" (of religious organizations) was in March 1946, during Stalin's purges. For 40 years UGCC worked from exile and illegally in the Soviet Union.

UGCC Department of Information