His Beatitude Sviatoslav: “We live in a society in which the gap between the wealthy and the poor widens daily”

UGCC Primate, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) addressed this in his sermon dealing with the parable about the rich man and Lazarus at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on November 4^th in Kyiv.

Joining  Patriarch Sviatoslav in co-celebrating the Divine Liturgy were:  Roman Catholic  Bishop Anton Kosha of the Kyshyniv Eparchy of the Republic of Moldova, responsible for all Catholics in there, particularly for Ukrainian  Greek-Catholics,  Bishop Ken (Nowakowski), Bishop of UGCC  New Westminster Eparchy (in the far western part of Canada), as well as Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), Secretary of UGCC Synod.

In his homily His Beatitude Sviatoslav reminded the assembled that there comes a moment in everyone’s life --  be they rich or poor, happy or unhappy --  which unites them all – death.  Thereafter, they again disperse into two opposite sites: one ends up in the place of eternal bliss, and another – into the place of unending punishment, a place of cries and suffering.  This is what happened to the rich man and Lazarus in the evangelical parable.  The Evangelist Luke describes that the rich man at the bottom of hell raises his eyes and sees a poor person, whom he knew in his life but whom he wanted to ignore. .. And he says, “Brother Abraham, send that poor man to me, so that with at least one finger he can wet my tongue because I am suffering greatly in this heat.  And it is only then that the earthly mission of Lazarus manifests itself, because the word “lazar” means “God helps.”  The rich man in hell is begging for at least the touch of one finger of God’s hand to help him out; however, when during his earthly life, God extended to him a whole hand of assistance and care, he refused it, believing that he was self-sufficient.  However, that abyss which he constructed during his earthly life becomes the abyss between heaven and hell in eternity.

“Yet in this life, polarized, wherein human dignity is not respected, Christ’s Church continues to proclaim the Good News – the blessings of Christ’s Gospel.  Christ’s Church continues to strengthen those, whom the rich man beckoned in hell,” stated the pastor to the faithful.

As proof of his words during the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav ordained deacon Andriy Khim’yak and elevated six sub-deacons to deacons.

“Today we place our hands on the next priest whose goal is to preach God’s Word, the blessing of God’s people through the Holy Sacraments -- the highest of which is the sacredness of the Body and Blood  of Christ — the Holy Eucharist,” emphasized UGCC Head.

“We rejoice with you, Fr. Andriy,” states the Primate.  And, today truly so many clergy have gathered to thank Almighty God for the gift of your vocation, to express their gratitude to everyone who led you to this day – your family, parents, the Lviv Spiritual Seminary which educated you.   Nevertheless, a special appreciation to Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), who truly guides you not only as a supervisor but as a spiritual father.”

The newly-ordained priest, Fr. Andriy, received “with joy” his responsibility to proclaim God’s Word and pledged to “fulfill his priestly duties to the best of his abilities.”

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UGCC Department of Information