His Beatitude Sviatoslav fulfilled one of the testaments of Patriarch (Josyf Slipyj)

“Today I have an occasion for great joy. Not only because I am visiting again princely city of Lviv, but also because today I can fulfill the words of Patriarch Josyf (Slipyj) who made a testament to his successors to take a special care of Studite monks of the UGCC. So along with all the brethren of St. John’s Lavra I am celebrating in joy the Parish Feast Day of the Monastery,” – said the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church during a Pontifical Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast of Nativity of St. John the Baptist.   The UGCC Primate presided at the solemn Divine Liturgy which took place on July 7 in St. Sophia’s church in Shevchenkivskyi Hai in Lviv. Concelebrating with the Head of the UGCC were: Bishop Volodymyr (Vijtyshyn) – Eparch of Ivano-Frankivsk and Bishop Josyf (Milian) – Auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv Archeparchy.   During his homily, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted:  “We are reading today in the Gospel how Prophet Zachariah, the father of Forerunner, serving in the temple was filled with God’s grace and power. In a similar way, a Christian who is seeking nowadays a perfect holy life can encounter God’s power directed to each one of us through the sacramental nature of Christ’s Church. We just have to believe that God is meeting us here today and is filling us with the power of the Holy Spirit. And then God’s grace will fecundate our human infertile piety and will make of us the followers of Christ opening up for us the way to holiness.”   The Head of the UGCC also noted that today’s feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist coincides with a jubilee. “We have so numerously gathered here among the Studite brethren also on another occasion – to congratulate the Most Rev. Josyf with his 55^th anniversary. In 1983 His Excellency took perpetual vows in a Studite monastery (changing his secular name Ivan for a monastic one – Josyf). And similarly to Zachariah he has been filled with God’s power. He stepped on the path of ascetism in order to rebuild our Church in the heart of Ukraine in Kyiv”.   At the end of the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav greeted the children who received their first solemn Holy Communion. The Head of the UGCC expressed his gratitude to catechists, parents and all those who take care of Christian upbringing of Ukrainian children.

 

UGCC Information Department