Ecology issues take centre stage on the day of the Church New Year

On September 14, 2009, the first day of the Church New Year at 11:00 am, in Kyiv (35 Urytskoho St.) a round table discussion took place on the topic of “Ecology of life,” dedicated to the ecological celebrations for the Day of the Creator. Organizers included the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in partnership with the State Ecological Academy of Postgraduate Education and Administration.  From 1989, through the initiative of the Universal Constantinople Patriarch Dimitriy I, ecological days of prayer take place in orthodox, catholic and protestant churches. On the day that marks the beginning of the Church New Year (September 1/14), special attention is turned to protect the environment that was created by God. From September of 1989, the European Network for Ecological Cooperation of Christians has been very active in Europe (European Christian Environmental Network). “The legacy of Chornobyl’, the victims of which include millions of our fellow citizens, reflects the reckless destruction of the ‘green lungs’ of Ukraine: forests, which have been largely depleted by extensive clear cutting; fertile black soil, contaminated by industrial waste; pollution of air and water reservoirs, which are finite, creating an ecologically-legal nihilism. These are a few examples of a deep ecological crisis that is currently happening in Ukraine,” commented organizers of the round table discussions. They inform us that, today, 80% of Ukrainians live in areas where air and water pollution is at critical and dangerous levels for healthy living. Ecological factors play an important role in the decline of immunity and development of various diseases. The following topics were discussed at the round table: ecology of environment, ecology of man and the place of the Church and State in these issues. During the round table, the newly published book “Ecological handbook: simple advice for large changes” was presented by author Volodymyr Sheremeta, head of the UGCC Bureau for Ecology.  Representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of External Affairs, State Ecological Academy of Postgraduate Studies and Administration of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, traditional Christian Churches and religious organizations of Ukraine all took part in the discussions.. At the completion of the round table, a list of recommendations was given to participants to continue their work towards bringing about change at the level of the proper ministries and departments.

Information Department of the UGCC