“The willow branches symbolize all the good which we can bring Christ, as a summary of our Great Lent,” UGCC Head on Palm Sunday

“Today Jesus comes to us and He wants to be accepted and that we walk through the Holy Week together with him and observe his humiliation, crucifixion and resurrection which provides the final victory to those who believe in Him.  The green branches which you hold in your hands are similar to those in Ancient Israel where the same movements were made in greeting the Savior the symbols of His victory and you, just as Ancient Israel, make the same movements as they when they greeted the Savior with palm branches, and unite yourself with the King in His glory,”   stated  His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), UGCC Head, during the sermon on the Feast of God’s Entry to Jerusalem  on  April 28, 2013 in the UGCC Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ  in Kyiv.

In greeting  all present with one of the 12 greatest holy days of the year, UGCC Head noted that Jerusalem was the city where Jesus died, was crucified, but resurrected on the third day in glory.”  “We, Christians, together with Christ, who enters Jerusalem, are entering the time of Passion Week which leads us into the sacrament of His suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection,” noted the preacher.  According to the words of UGCC Primate, Jesus came to Jerusalem so that through his blood He could make us, sinful ones, just and holy.  Jesus is the victorious King because during these days he will go to death itself in order to resurrect and overcome it, thus opening for people a road in life and the eventual destruction of all evil in the world.  Christ is also the humble King “because on the cross, He experienced the greatest humiliation.”

“Today this King comes into our life, so may these willow branches symbolize all the good which we can bring Him today as a summery of Great Lent.  He invites us to let God’s strength enter our life and through it to become an honest person, an authentic Christian, a participant  of his  victory over evil that so often troubles us.  He comes in order to strengthen us from pride by showing us his humiliation,” concluded His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

After the Divine Liturgy, UGCC Head blessed the willow branches.

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