Patriarch Sviatoslav: ‘Main basis for unity among Christians is one Lord, one faith, one baptism’

Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), head of the UGCC, participated in the ecumenical prayer service in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity held on January 25, 2012, in the Philadelphia Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, in Kyiv. In his address to those present, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, referring to Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, stressed that “the main basis for unity among Christians is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The patriarch, explaining the meaning of Christian unity, said that “we have one Father, who sent us his one Son and gave us the Holy Ghost , the Comforter.” His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that the UGCC recognizes baptism in all the churches and communities that cross in name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. “So my baptism and yours is the same. Because baptism is not just a beautiful ceremony, but a new birth, a great gift from God,” he said. In conclusion, the UGCC head stressed that Christians want to be united since “the lack of unity is the biggest obstacle to preaching the Gospel.” “Today, many people do not know the Savior because everyone preaches in his or her own way. I ask that you turn to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and pray that the profound unity which is already among us be present in our actions, words, in daily Christian life – then that which separates us will be defeated.”  

UGCC Information Department