About the sixty-second session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv - Galician Supreme Archbishopric of the UGCC

The Bishops of Kyiv- Galician Supreme Archbishopric of the UGCC, the Archbishops Milan (Shashik) of the Greek Catholic Eparchy in Mukachevo and Nil (Lushchak), the Bishop-assisstant of the Greek Catholic Eparchy in Mukachevo attended the synodal meetings.

         During the Synod the Bishops celebrated the funeral liturgy and requiem for the Bishop Cornelius (Pasichnyi) of the Eparchy in Toronto (Canada) who died January 30, 2014.

         The main topics of this session of the Bishops Synod of the Supreme Archbishopric were: social and political situation in Ukraine, preparations for the proper celebration of the 25th anniversary of the UGCC legalization in Ukraine and the approval of the programme for the Decade of missions in Kyiv- Galician Supreme Archbishopric of the UGCC in 2014. Father Yosaphat Moshchych talked about the latter. He presented a draft programme for the Decade of missions to the Synod Fathers. The programme will be implemented for the first time this year.

         While discussing the social and political situation in Ukraine, the Synod worked out and approved the Appeal which was signed by the Bishops Milan (Shashik) and Nil (Lushchak).

The Synod discussed in details the preparations for the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the UGCC legalization and took appropriate decisions on proper preparations for this celebration.

A lot of synodal meetings were dedicated to processing synodal documents. The Synod considered and adopted draft Guidelines for priests regarding their conduct during an election campaign. The Guidelines were worked out in a working group led by the Bishop Bohdan (Dzyurakh). A draft Pastoral Instruction "Good Shepherd", which is worked out in a working group led by Father Volodymyr Zhdan was also considered.

         Other topics were: commemoration of the Servant of God, Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi in Major Archbishopric from November 1, 2014 to November 1, 2015. The topic was reported by the Metropolitan Ihor (Voznyak). Father Oleg Kas'kiv, the general secretary of the Patriarchal Council session, reported on the stage of preparation for the VI session of the Patriarchal Council of the UGCC. The Archbishop Dmytro (Grygorak) reported the results of the inspection of the rehabilitation center for the alcohol and drug addicts "Nazareth" to the Synod Fathers. The inspection was carried out by the commission under his leadership that was established during the last session of the Synod of Supreme Archbishopric.

         Father Petro Rak, the manager of the department of church committees, reported on the activity of Supreme Archbishopric committees in the past two months. Father Vasyl Bilash, the head of the Commission for the Laity of the UGCC, provided more details on its activities.

It was decided to hold the sixty- third session of the Bishops Synod of Kyiv - Galician Supreme Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in April 2014.

Secretariat of the Bishops Synod of

Kyiv- Galician Supreme Archbishopric of the

UGCC