In Kyiv the Episcopal ordination of the leader of the newly created Odessa Exarchate UGCC took place

In his preach the Head of the Church said that " this festival provides the opportunity to experience an event that is always live".  "This event is a meeting of the Archangel Gabriel and Mary - God's power and human weakness. This event marked the beginning of our salvation and inscrutable mystery of God's love,"- said the Major Archbishop of the UGCC. And this love, he says, is life-giving, saved, and the biggest wound that man got as a result of the fall - the inability to respond to God's love. But only one was found who was able to respond to it in return - the Virgin Mary. The Word of God incarnated in her womb and it started the salvation of the human race.

 Addressing the newly ordained Bishop Mykhaylo, the head of the UGCC marked that the Bishop, as the successor of the apostles, is the one who was come upon with the grace of the Holy Spirit, as the Virgin in Nazareth. "He gets the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, which open the way for every believer. The bishop is the messenger, the successor of the Apostles, which is intended not only to preach the word of God, but also to implement it in the lives of those who listen. The Bishop must teach the truths of faith, sanctify believers, and share with them the Holy Spirit, which was received at ordination, as well as directing the faithful to God's kingdom. Then his ministry will be the hope for someone who does not have it"- said the Archbishop.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that the God invokes bishops to ministry, to save the people he loves immensely.  "We get a great hope in time when it seems not to be. Christ chose another apostle and his servant , "- said the preacher, referring to Bishop Mykhaylo.

The Primate of the UGCC said that the new Bishop got incomprehensible gift: "You will understand the grace of the Holy Spirit you are anointed when you lead the faithful along. Even when you are left by everyone, the Holy Spirit will act through you. We are sending you today to those people who are most alarmed and need your presence. The love you take today in your heart, give it out to others, and it will  be multiplied".

Finally, the Head of the Church expressed his support for the new Exarch, noting that the whole Church is praying for him "to accopmlish his ministry with dignity and sacredly, to send Lord's power to the people of God from His sanctified hands and the Virgin Mary is to be his guide and defender”.

UGCC Department of Information