Fifty-ninth Session of the Synod of Bishops of UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric

The 59^th session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek- Catholic Church was held at the Lviv Archeparchy Recollection - Recreation Center in Briukhovychi on February 25, 2013.

Seventeen bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric participated in the synod.        For the first time His Grace Nil Lushchak, Auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy of Mukachiv, who was consecrated a bishop on January 12, 2013 in Uzhhorod Greek - Catholic Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, attended the synod.

Main topic of this synod was an appropriate commemoration of the Year of Faith in the Major Archbishopric.  The keynote address was given by His Grace Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), followed by Rev. Myron Bendyk on Clergy Guidelines for the Year of Faith and His Grace Bishop Joseph (Milan) on the All-Church Pilgrimage to the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv on August 17-18, 2013.  Given the fact that faith without action is dead, presentations on the Year of the Deacon as a third year of preparation for the 1025^th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine, were made by Rev. Andriy Nahirniak and Mr. Andriy Vaskiv, president of the Charitable Fund Caritas- Ukraine.  Appropriate resolutions were passed by the synod for all above issues.

The synod completed the third review and ratified the following documents: “Norms of celebrating Divine Liturgy,” presented by His Grace Bishop Taras (Senkiv) and “Administrative Guidelines of UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric,” presented by Rev. Dr. Oleksa Petriv.

A discussion on the preparations for the 1025^th celebration of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine was chaired by His Grace Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), a member of the jubilee’s State Organizing Committee.  Rev. Sebastian (Dmytrukh) a Studite, spoke on UGCC participation in the celebration of the centennial of the Lviv National Museum, created as a result of a gift to the Ukrainian people by Metropolitan Andrey (Sheptytsky).

An analysis of the completion of the resolutions of the past sessions of UGCC Synod of  Bishops of  Kyiv-Halych Archbishopric was done by reviewing interim reports of the activities of the  Commission  on  Clergy Behavior in Past Parliamentary Elections, presented by Metropolitan Ihor (Vozniak), and that of the working group preparing the pastoral guide “A Good Shepherd,” presented by Rev. Volodymyr Zhdan.

Touching the sphere of state-church relations, the Synod members were informed on the legal acts of Parliament, Cabinet of Ministers and the Administration of the President of Ukraine, which relate to religious life.  In consideration of the fact that this year marks the 70^th anniversary of the Volyn tragedy, the synod ratified an appropriate resolution.

In financial matters, the report of the activities of the UGCC Pilgrimage Center, compiled by its general director, Mr. Dmytro Myronenko, was reviewed and other financial-administrative issues were discussed.

The activities of the Commissions of the Major Bishopric were reported by Rev. Petro Rak, head of the Department of Church Commissions and by Sr. Khrystofora Bushtyn, SNDM, head of UGCC Commission on Matters of Primary Education.

On the following day, synod participants attended the Pontifical Divine Liturgy in St. George’s Archcatedral on the occasion of the 80^th birthday and the 55^th anniversary of priesthood of His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar), UGCC Archbishop-Emeritus.

It was decided to hold the Sixtieth Session of the Synod of Bishops of UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric in the Marian Spiritual Center in Zarvanytsa in May 2013.

Synod of Bishops Secretariat

UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric