Head of UGCC participated in cadets’ taking oath of allegiance and gifted them a flag of Petro Sahaidachny Academy

Sunday, 04 September 2016, 12:08

On September 3rd Father and Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church His Beatitude Sviatoslav participated in cadet’s taking oath of allegiance in Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Army Academy in Lviv.

See also:

Appeal of His Beatitude Sviatoslav to the Sons and Daughters of the Ukrainian People in Ukraine and Abroad, and to all People of Good Will
His Beatitude Sviatoslav congratulated Sisters of the Incarnate Word Order with on holding Cathedral Chapter
A patriarchate for the UGCC is not only a title. Above all, it’s a way of existing, — His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Before an oath of allegiance started Head of the Church together with priests and militaries had prayed at the memorial desk of Academy graduates who died, defending Ukraine.

Archbishop said that moment of taking oath of allegiance is special in a life of a serviceman as it defines the ongoing life of a defender of the Motherland. “In order to accomplish everything our young people swore in front of our eyes, he assumes, - requires to put in more efforts. To take an oath of allegiance is easy to keep but it is not easy to be devoted to this oath throughout a life.”

His Beatitude Sviatoslav greeted everyone who made their choice in life, who had enough courage to take an oath of being a defender of the Motherland in this, maybe, one of the roughest periods in the history of our country.

Head of the Church simultaneously promised the cadets: “We – representatives of Ukrainian Church in particular have always been standing by your side”. “We know, - he added, - that every fifth of you has gone through tough moments in ATO zone. Words about love to the Motherland, about patriotism are not just mere words for you, since you have shed your own blood on the Ukrainian land. So our Ukrainian Church was with you then, as it had been with your parents and grandparents throughout all liberation competitions for our people. Your Church keeps being with you”.

“Today our priests from Siberia, Kazakhstan, Europe, Australia, America, Canada, Brazil are praying perpetually for you, so to help you to uphold an oath of allegiance you took today. We promise to be with you”, His Beatitude Sviatoslav made a promise.

At the end of celebration Head of UGCC made Academy a spiritual present. “It is not a secret what battle flag means to a serviceman and to the Ukrainian army. I want to gift the head of Academy a spiritual flag. It is a gonfalon of Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady, her Cover is a Patroness for the Ukrainian army. And we want to give all of you, dear servicemen, under her protection”, the Archbishop said, giving the gonfalon.

At the end of celebration Head of UGCC joined a meeting with chaplains at St. Michael church, in Academy.

Photos by Mykhailo Horbovyi

The UGCC Department of Infrormation