“The new eparch will become a Кіrion who will preach, bless, and direct God’s people towards salvation…” UGCC Head in Kolomyia

As is known, the first bishop of Kolomyia-Chernivtsi Eparchy in 1993 became Bishop (Vasylyk) who had spent many years as a prisoner of Moscow camps. Bishop Pavlo started the construction of the Cathedral of the Presentation of Christ in the city of Kolomyia as a center of eparchial life. After his death in 2005, Bishop Mykola (Simkaylo) fulfilled his service as a bishop here; he suddenly passed on to eternity on May 21, 2013. Now, the new Eparch became Bishop Vasyl (Ivasiuk), until now UGCC Odesa-Crimea Exarch.

 

It is noteworthy, that the following participated in the Divine Liturgy: Archbishop Thomas Edward Hallikson, the Apostolic Nuncio for Ukraine; Bishop Volodymyr (Viytyshyn), Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk; Bishop Vasyl (Semeniuk), Ternopil-Zboriv Metropolitan; Bishop Mykhaylo Koltun), Eparch of Sokal-Zhovkva; Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh), UGCC Patriarchal Curia Administrator; Bishop Milan (Shashik), from GCC Mukachevo Eparchy; Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), Sambir-Drohobych Eparch; Bishop Josaphat (Hovera), Lutsk Exarch; Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk), Auxiliary Bishop of UGCC Lviv Archeparchy, and other bishops of the Roman Catholic Church as well as RCC and UGCC clergy.

 

“The history and deaths of the forty soldiers-martyrs, are today for us a special message from God and the Word,” began his sermon UGCC Head after the reading of the Gospel. The preacher recounted that the 40 martyrs were soldiers from Cappadocia who gave their lives in the city of Sebaste on the territory of previous Armenia. This happened at the beginning of the 4th during the rule of Emperor Lik, who cruelly persecuted Christians on the eastern territories of the Roman Empire. 

 

 “The description of the life of these saints states that they were extremely brave. Their lieutenant was the warrior Kirion, knowledgeable in the Holy Scripture and God’s Word. Thus, they were victorious not only by the sword but also by the strength of God’s Word,” he continued. “These saints were faithful to the oath that they made to the Heavenly Tsar, and therefore suffered a particular torture. On a frigid night they were led into the Sebaste Lake in order to punish them with death through freezing. According to the words of UGCC Major Archbishop, the message for our nation today is “the courage of the 40 Sebaste martyrs under the leadership of God’s Kirion.We, Ukrainians and other nationalities residing in Ukraine, feel proud that we have the strength to hold out and withstand. Maybe, during this time, someone doubted and left, yet, in spite of all the difficulties and disagreements, UGCC is developing and growing,” he emphasized.

 

His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that God sends his Holy Spirit so that “the Church Body of Christ is assured of stability and inviolability, and the development of the Ukrainian state.” He added that with God’s mercy and His will, today the enthronization of Bishop Vasyl took place. The symbol of the bishop’s entry to the throne of a bishop is the act of enthronization. “This act of taking a seat on the throne is a picture of the fact that God is the One who sits on the throne of His glory, and the bishop on his throne is His icon.” In conclusion, UGCC Primate said that no one can rock God’s throne and 

 

His Church. He is the strongest foundation which no one can infract.“Today God sends the bishop, therefore receive him as God’s messenger. He is that Kirion who is to preach God’s Word, bless God’s people and direct them towards the Heavenly Kingdom.

 

UGCC Department of Information