"Axios" means "worthy"; may we be: Lenten retreats in Wuerttemberg

Lent is the occasion for each of us to get deeper into his own self, to understand himself and other people. Some stimulus is needed for this purpose; a retreat is often such a step and stimulus. At the Parish of Saint Basil the Great, in the center of Stuttgart, the Lenten retreat lasted from 14 to 22 March. All interested persons had the opportunity to use this event to receive the grace of God necessary for deepening the Christian life. It has already become a good tradition for this parish to invite priests from Ukraine during Lent. This year together with the pastor, Father Roman Vruschak, the retreat was conducted by Fr. Taras Yavorskyj, master of theology, from the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy of the UGCC. On Sunday March 15, in the Ukrainian church in Stuttgart, Apostolic Exarch Bishop Piotr (Kryk) celebrated the pontifical Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great. The Kolpinghaus Chapel has already become too small for the numerous parishioners. The visit of Bishop Piotr was timed to the Lenten retreats and the solemn awarding of the pastor, Father Roman Vruschak, with the mitre. "Today we have an exceptional honor intended for your pastor, Roman Vruschak, who at the decision of His Beatitude, our Patriarch Lubomyr, is elevated to the dignity of a mitred priest," noted Bishop Piotr. "This is a great event, not only in the life of the parish but also in our Church in Germany. Father Roman works for you in matters of God and the Church, and the proof of this labor is the community which is developing and enriched by young people," continued the hierarch. Father Taras Yavorskyj read the decree of His Beatitude Lubomyr awarding Father Roman with the mitre. Bishop Piotr called Father Roman to more zealous and dedicated life and gave his hierarchal blessing to all the faithful and guests. During the ceremony of bestowing the mitre, «Axios» was heard three times, which in the translation from Greek means «worthy.» Reverend Bishop Piotr called the faithful to be so.

Dmytro Miretskyj
Stuttgart, Germany