The Second Congress of the Laity of UGCC Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate has begun in Kyiv

On May 9, 2013, a Divine Pontifical Liturgy, headed by Bishop Joseph (Milyan) in  St. Basil the Great Church in Kyiv, began the work of the  Second Congress of the UGCC Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate Laity on the topic “New Evangelization: its challenges and objectives.”

In his welcoming words, UGCC Head His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) invited those gathered to contemplate that the meaning of the term “new evangelization” means the passing on of faith.  “Today it is important to adapt what the transfer of faith means specifically in the areas of Eastern Ukraine in the Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate. The evangelization of Eastern Ukraine is to be the priority for the whole Church.  During my visits to various countries, I noticed that if the community is not a missionary one, it begins to decline.  If our Church does not mentally cross ‘the Zbruch River boundary’ -- then our parishes there, even the most developed ones, will begin to decline,” stated His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

Also the UGCC Primate mentioned that during the time of preparation for the Synod, he visited all the exarchates and metropolitanates and met not only with the religious people, but also with the laity, especially youth and catechists. “I always posed the question: how do you envision the strategy of the development of your exarchates, specifically you -- the laity?  What kind of a Church do you want in this region?  You are the ones who should prompt the clergy on how we should continue to exist,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

After the presentation by the UGCC Head, members of the Congress summarized the present conditions in the Kyiv Archeparchy, the Donetsk-Kharkiv, the Odesa-Crimea and the Lutsk exarchates.  They touched on various aspects of  development, in particular, the spiritual role of the monastic congregations in the development of UGCC in the East (proto-archimandrite Vasyl Tuchapets, OSBM); issues of pastoral-laity aspect (youth, organizations, communities)  (Rev. Vasyl Bilash); issues of married couples (Rev. Bohdan Tymchyshyn); financial – the  creation of  an All-Church Fund for the Development of UGCC in the East (Rev. Vasyl Chudiyovych); canonical – the expansion of administrative structures (Rev. Taras Valakh).  During the afternoon, group workshops were to summarize the various discussions.

UGCC Department of Information