Clergy of Brussels of the UGCC welcomed in the Ukrainian church the new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine

Recently the clergy of Brussels of the UGCC welcomed in the Ukrainian Church of Saint and Equal to the Apostles Great Prince Volodymyr the new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium, Mr. Evhen Bersheda. In the last few years it has already become a tradition that newly-appointed ambassadors of the Ukrainian state (both at the EU and in the Kingdom of Belgium) as one of the first contacts come to the Ukrainian church in Brussels. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by: Fr. Oleh Zymak, CSSR, pastor of Brussels of the UGCC, Fr. Orest Fredyna, protosynkellos (chancellor) of the Archeparchy of Lviv, Fr. Richard Heyduck, CSSR, Ph.D., and Fr. Andriy Oliynyk, CSSR.  In his speech Fr. Oleh Zymak, in particular, noted the importance of knowing our more than 1000-year Christian identity; a deep understanding of just those Christian values will help fortify the foundation of mutual trust in re-building our joint Ukrainian home. After the divine service the pastor congratulated the ambassador and gave him a memorial gift: a collection of archival documents about the efforts to liquidate the UGCC by the communist regime; the film «Redemptorists» (in the French language, produced under the direction of Fr. Ivan Levytskyj, C.SS.R); and an envelope with relics of Blessed Martyr Bishop Mykolay Charnetskyj. Ambassador E. Bersheda in his speech in particular noted the special role which the Church plays in Ukrainian society; he assured about the maximal efforts which the Embassy of Ukraine, and its Consular Department makes and in future will make for the care and help of Ukrainian citizens. The ambassador expressed his gratitude for such a family-like reception at the parish, marking that at once he felt himself as if in Ukraine. He gave a memorial gift, the book-album "Churches of Ukraine." After singing the Church hymn “Bozhe, Velykyi, Yedynyi,” ("God, Great and One") all were invited to a brotherly open table during which communication of the faithful and guests of the clergy continued.

Secretariat of the clergy of Brussels of the UGCC