The Head of the UGCC: "At the prayer breakfast we had a unique opportunity to tell the truth about what is happening in Ukraine"

Thursday, 13 February 2014, 16:00

"I can tell you honestly that we were listened differently. Some of congressmen and other representatives of the U.S. government, perhaps, hearing about Ukraine, thought: thank God that in America we do not have such problems as in Ukraine, it is good that we are better than they are ... But I purposed to destroy the "pharisaic feeling of superiority", because what is happening in Ukraine, sooner or later will affect not only Europe, but also each resident of the U.S. If Ukraine will not remain a free and independent state, the whole world may be on the verge of a new Cold War."

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It was said by the Father and the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) during a sermon at the Ukrainian Catholic boundary Cathedral of the Holy Family in Washington, where he served a Pontifical Divine Liturgy on 9 February.

As we reported, on February 9 the official visit of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the USA was finished. The visit, the main purpose of which was to participate in the 62nd National prayer breakfast, started on February 4.

His Beatitude Svyatoslav said that the breakfast was a good opportunity to meet many different people, as more than 135 representatives from different countries came. "We had a unique opportunity in a difficult period of our homeland history to tell the truth about what is happening in Ukraine", - said the head of the UGCC.

In his view, the events in Ukraine today take off the mask of many people, shed false images that someone had formed as among Ukrainian political, social and ecclesiastical environment and all over the world.

"So today we pray to the Lord God to help all of us know the truth about ourselves and about our country and beg for mercy for our country and for all of us" – wished His Beatitude in conclusion.

He thanked the faithful for the opportunity to pray with them and in prayers bring Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian state, which is going through a difficult time in its history to the throne of the Lord God.

"In today's Gospel reading we hear the story of Christ about two people who came to the temple: the Pharisee who showed his superiority among others, and the Publican, that felt unworthy to be in the temple and prayed only one prayer: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner " And Christ set this publican as an example to all Christians"- said the faithful Preacher.

The Head of the UGCC explained that these two individuals show two ways how a person thinks he can get closer to God. "Someone thinks he can deserve the intimacy with the Lord himself and, perhaps, with his perfect work can get to the top of God’s holiness. And in fact it is not so. The only way to God is the way of humility before God. Pacification before God does not neglect our dignity. Pacification is a person's ability to know the truth about him. It is a way to get God's mercy, "- said His Beatitude in his homily to the faithful of the UGCC in Washington.

UGCC Department of Information