The Head of the UGCC: "The history of the monument to Metropolitan Andrey – this is Ukrainian history of struggle for freedom"

With these words the Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav appealed to the clergy, representatives of the government and the faithful on the occasion of opening and consecration of the monument to Andrey Sheptytskyi on 29 July in the square of ​​St. George in Lviv.

The Head of the UGCC stressed that the history of the establishment of this monument is the history of Ukrainian struggle for their freedom. "The rivalry to establish a monument to the Great Metropolitan is an integral part of the national liberation struggle of our people and its history, consciousness, church and national identity. This is the story of the struggle for our present and better future, blessed by God", - He explained.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav reported that this year we mark the 80th anniversary of the day when the monument to Metropolitan Andrey in Lviv was erected. It was in 1935, on the 30th anniversary of the National Museum in Lviv and the 70th anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan.

"Then this monument appeared as a sign of appreciation of Ukrainian artists to a great father of Ukrainian art and spirit" – He marked, adding that the author of the monument was Sergiy Lytvynenko, and it was installed it in the courtyard of the museum. However, as the Primate of the Church said, it has not stood long there, then there wasn’t another place for the monument in Lviv.

"Another artist built the monument during the lifetime of Metropolitan, which today is revealed to our eyes. Andrew Koverko, the artist of interwar Ukrainian Lviv modern, created a monument: Sheptytsky saw it. But there was no place for this monument, except another court - the court of the Lviv Theological Academy - said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. - And this monument did not stand long. As you know, the Soviets destroyed all they could, and above all – they were destroying the memory of great men and leaders of Ukrainian people and the Church. So again this monument became the subject of Ukrainian struggle for the right to be themselves in their native land".

The Head of the Church recalled that in 90th years Lviv citizens spontaneously brought flowers, denoting a place where should be erected the monument to Taras Shevchenko and the monument to Metropolitan Andrey. Then at St. George’s square there was the hill of flowers and candles and the inscription: "Here will be the monument of Metropolitan Andrey". "Today it happened. So let's look at this monument! We cannot see the triumphant prince of the church in luxurious Bishop’s robes. We can see the monk, belted with the leather belt of purity, obedience and poverty. We can see Moses of Ukrainian people, which is going down from this Holy St George’s Hill, as if from Ukrainian Sinai, not after forty, but after eighty-day prayer and standing before God", - stressed the Head of the UGCC.

He also noted that Metropolitan Andrey as Moses of Ukrainian nation stands today and leans His hand on the "unbreakable rock of Ukrainian history".

"Today the Ukrainian Church and people go that road, which led, lead and will lead us, You, our prophet, teacher, and father prelate. For this is the road of freedom, truth, rebirth and resurrection of Ukrainian spirit. This is the road of strengthening of Ukrainian statehood. This is a way to holiness, God and eternal life", - concluded the Head of the UGCC.

UGCC Department of Information