"On the territory of Central Ukraine we happened as a church community..." - the Head of the UGCC addressed to the priests of Kyiv archdiocese

Thursday, 10 April 2014, 14:14

On the territory of Central Ukraine, where the parishes of Kiev archdiocese of UGCC are situated, the process of profound transformation is taking place: people have become different

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As pastors you can see that due to social changes that have occurred recently in our country, people apprehend our Church in a new way. You know, that until recently we were not noticed, we were not given the space for development. But now I can positively say that on the territory of Central Ukraine we happened as a church community.

It was said by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father of the UGCC, Kyiv Metropolitan to the priests of Kyiv archdiocese on 8 April 2014. The priests have gathered in a recollection center near Zhytomyr for Lenten recollections.

The Archbishop of the UGCC thanked the pastors, as their attention to their people and denouncing injustice and harassment of the Ukrainian people have changed people's attitudes towards the UGCC on these lands and formed the true face of the Church.

"Today, our nation is very wounded after all events. We live now in the triple stress: post-revolutionary, military, pre-election, - continued the Head of the UGCC. - These difficult moments have rolled up at one time, so you need to be responsive to the people".

According to him, a man can sometimes be lead to the Lord if he is helped to go through the pain. That is why, the Diocese office conduct training for priests to work with people who suffer from "postmaidan" stress. The Head of the Church said that no politicians and representatives of the renewed power is a source of hope for the people, but the Church and priests.

In conclusion, the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church reported that during the last session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Galician Major Archbishopric the Regulations of the UGCC clergy’s behavior during political campaigns was approved. His Beatitude Sviatoslav explained that this instruction defines the principles of priests behavior during the election campaign: "I ask you to accept these principles, as certain limits of activity and inactivity of the priest in these political processes".

At the end the Head of the UGCC thanked the priests of Kyiv archdiocese of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church "for sacrifice and zeal during the events on the Maidan, for their care of people 24 hours a day".

UGCC Department of Information