“A dialogue and development of ecumenical relationships with Ukrainian Orthodoxy is a pastoral imperative,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Focusing on this thought, UGCC Head His Beatitude Sviatoslav delivered his speech to the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.  As was previously reported, on November 12-16, 2012, in the Vatican a plenary session of this Council is taking place.  The topic under discussion is “The significance of ecumenism for a new evangelization.”  This issue is closely related to the topic covered by the Thirteenth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which was “New evangelization for transmitting faith,” as  reported by Radio Vatican.

“The main obstacle to building a fruitful dialogue with the Orthodox World in Ukraine,” noted UGCC Head “is the painful division within Ukrainian Orthodoxy itself.  Truly, today, in our land there exist three Orthodox communities.  Among them there are irreconcilable contradictions on ecclesiological grounds: each one of these Churches negates the right of the other two to exist.  Only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) is considered by the Orthodox World as a “canonical Church,” which, although it does belong to the Moscow Patriarchate, practices a certain autonomy.”

Furthermore, His Beatitude Sviatoslav provided statistics demonstrating that the largest in terms of number of parishes is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), claiming among its followers 31 % of Ukraine’s population.

Later he also touched on the problem of the politicized nature of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and the investment of political forces into religious life for the purpose of using the Church as an instrument for the realization of their own goals. This fact causes quite a bit of suffering for the Churches themselves and hardships on the road towards unity of all Christians in Ukrainian society.

For ecumenical dialogue, the existing division of Ukrainian Orthodoxy is the most severe impediment.   However, it is paramount to acknowledge, that the experience of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRU) demonstrates that the Churches in Ukraine have learned how to work together and to solve difficulties in a brotherly peaceful manner,” underlined the speaker.  Among others, UGCC Primate emphasized the palpable feeling of progress in the relationship of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP).

In continuing his speech, UGCC presented other  impediments  on the road toward am ecumenical dialogue and understanding, in particular the accusations from the side of Ukrainian Orthodox Church  (MP), alleging that Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in the 90s took from them about 500 “Orthodox churches,” although -- as we know -- these churches were  built as those  of Greek-Catholic or Roman Catholic,  and only during the Soviet period were transformed into properties of  the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP).

His Beatitude Sviatoslav believes that in order to be able to plan new roads of reconciliation among Churches – something to which UGCC was always open -- it is, at first, necessary to expose the whole truth.  “We are convinced that we will be able to find a path in order to heal the wounds of the past, by forgiving and asking for forgiveness…  We are certain that the path towards reconciliation between the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church  on the basis of historical and pastoral realism is an effective means of renewing dialogue and creating a new model of ecumenical relations,” emphasized the UGCC Head.

At the beginning of his presentation, His Beatitude Sviatoslav reviewed the socio-political situation in Ukraine and the role of UGCC in the development of civil society.  He highlighted that Ukraine is a European nation with ancient Christian roots, while being a relatively young democratic country.  And the renovation of a post-soviet society, the period of religious freedom, the first successes and failures of a young democracy – these are all reasons that form the materials and foundation of challenges for a new evangelization in Ukraine.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav stressed that Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, as well as other traditional Churches, enjoy great respect in society.  This provides the possibility of bearing witness to Christian and generally human values, that is, to fulfill a critically important mission in society.  And on the basis of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRU), he demonstrated the openness of the Churches to an ecumenical dialogue and collaboration in promoting the national and public dialogue.

Background from Radio Vatican

On June 12, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI  named  as a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav , who is now  for the first time participating in the plenary session of the Council.

UGCC Department of Information