The Head of the UGCC: Today we see Christ, who shows Himself above new Ukraine, taking over our tears and sufferings.

Saturday, 20 January 2018, 23:54

The history of our nation shows: every time we need change, when we feel in our hearts that we cannot longer live like this, then we come to the source of the Christian faith.

See also:

Shameless theft at the state level, - His Beatitude Sviatoslav on Russia’s attempted annexation of four regions of Ukraine
War denies the paramount human right – to life, - the Head of the UGCC at the meeting of the VRCiRO with the ombudsman
From the Head of the UGCC at the Kyiv Three Saints Theological Seminary: We are starting the new academic year with great trust in the Lord

This was said by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church his Beatitude Sviatoslav in his homily to the faithful at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 19, 2018 AD.

Together with the Head of the Church the Liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, and Bishop Josyph (Milian), Auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv Archeparchy.

At the beginning, the Primate greeted all the faithful with this great holiday. "This Feast fills us with the hope for revival and life. It shows us that God is among us, with us and in us," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

According to the preacher, the moment when Jesus entered the Jordan waters, was the moment when the Lamb of God, pure and innocent, took over Himself the sins of the mankind, all those sins that people had left in that water when they confessed to John.

"John's hand trembled when he saw Christ because, instead of sin revelation, we see God revelation. There is a voice from the Heaven: 'This is the Son my Beloved.' And the Holy Spirit descends on Christ like a dove."

"'This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.' This confession of faith on the part of John is the life-giving one for us today. The moment when we experience the blessing of renewal, when the Lord grants a new birth from water and spirit, is the Sacrament of Baptism. In this Mystery a man gets rid of all the sins, personal and inherited. Heavens open above him and the Father says: You are my beloved son, my beloved daughter, on you My favor rests, and the Holy Spirit comes down a person, making him a temple of the Holy Spirit," noted the preacher.

"Today we see Christ," believes the spiritual leader of the UGCC, "Who takes over the sins of Ukraine, and together with them – our tears, our pain, our sufferings. Instead He gives us the feeling that God is with us and in Him we are invincible. He opens to us the source of power and victory over evil." Today we have a chance to experience the beginning of a new life, asks for contemplation the Head of the Church.

"'For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ,' says apostle Paul. May Ukraine clothe herself with Christ on this day. May all those, who were baptized by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, may they open that power which God has already put inside us. May, by the sprinkling of the blessed Jordan water, God's power, God's grace and God's enlightenment permeate our earth, our hearts, our society like water which washes the globe and gives life to all of us," wished His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

After the Liturgy the Head of the Church traditionally blessed the water in the Dnieper.

The UGCC Department for Information