“A holy icon – a window into eternity…” UGCC Head on Sunday of Orthodoxy

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 24, 2013, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), UGCC Head, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Dormition Univ Monastery of the Studite Order, near Lviv.  During the homily(audio) UGCC Head noted that it is on the first Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy) that one especially honors the icons, since it is through their help that we can see God’s face through the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit.

UGCC Major Archbishop emphasized that in this year, which in the whole Catholic Church is the Year of Faith, it is important that we comprehend that the fullness of faith lies in the real visible presence of God in the Holy Spirit among people.

“When we find ourselves before a blessed icon then we feel that God’s face is turned towards us,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.   “God’s blessing, peace, tranquility and protection are in that person, who is truly capable of feeling God’s presence in the holy icon.  That is why we often light candles by an icon as a sign that the icon is the sacredness of the presence of God. The person depicted on the icon is truly present here among us.”

The holy icon, in the opinion of UGCC Primate, is for us the beginning of a spiritual journey, since it alters the eyes of the one who looks at it and teaches them to see the invisible.   “Holy icons are a window open to eternity – therefore, those who worship the holy icons, worship also the person of God, present through them,” continued the preacher.

UGCC Head also stressed the importance of understanding that God is present in every person, who is made in His image and likeness.  Thus, it is strange that sometimes one, who worships and kisses the holy pictures and bows to the ground in worshipping them and then, walks out on the street and upon meeting his brother or sister, no longer sees in them that likeness which the Creator instilled in this live person.  “It is very important that we worship God, alive in all living beings, especially in the human person,” noted the sermon giver.

“I wish all of you, who have embarked on this Great Lenten spiritual feat and road to Christ’s Resurrection, to use well God’s presence in the icons and step by step get closer to that face of God which is prepared for all of us in eternity” concluded UGCC Primate.

At the end, Heiromonk  Teodor Martyniuk, abbot of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra , wished His Beatitude Sviatoslav energy and inspiration in continuing to represent UGCC in the entire world and that “our Church become a unifying force for our society.”

In expressing his gratitude to the monks for their hospitality, UGCC Head asked for prayers for the UGCC congregation in the Lutsk Exarchate, so that “our faithful feel that God’s face is also shining upon them.”   As was announced before, His Beatitude Sviatoslav will make a pastoral visit to the UGCC Exarchate of Lutsk during March 25-31.

Photo Album

UGCC Department of Information