UGCC actions are focused on unity in the Churches of Volodymyr’s Baptism. Comments regarding a speech by Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan)

His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, in his answer to the statement by the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, stated that UGCC acknowledges the Sacrament of Baptism, which is administered by that Christian community, in that the teachings of the Catholic Church state that “If the Sacrament of Baptism is administered in the name of the Holy Trinity and natural water is used, then it is valid.”

Mitred Archpriest Oleksa Petriv, Head of UGCC Department of External Relations in Ukraine, stated this in his comments to UGCC Department of Information.

He specified that according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, independent of the fact who administers the Sacrament of Baptism, a person who may themselves be a disbeliever, or Jewish or Muslim or otherwise, who belongs to this or that Christian confession – the sacrament is valid.  Vital is only that the person administering it, does it in the name of the Holy Trinity and uses natural water.  “The UGCC Primate did not make any statements regarding other sacraments,” explained Rev. Petriv.

“Based on the abovementioned correspondence, our Church is actually being accused of having an official relationship with UOC-KP. However, unfortunately the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church has no official collaboration neither with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate nor with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate.  All communication takes place at the level of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations and other inter-confessional groups who function as community organizations or through occasional exchange of letters,” explained the Head of UGCC Department of External Relations in Ukraine.

Rev. Oleksa also clearly noted that UGCC always, everywhere and in all circumstances, respects the cannons of the Orthodox Churches.  “We regret the fact that the Orthodox Church in Ukraine is divided.  All of our actions are oriented towards achieving unity within the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine, especially the Churches of Volodymyr’s Baptism.  We yearn for unity and not divisiveness, generated by ‘the one who splits,’ namely the devil,”   stated Mitred Archpriest Oleksa Petriv, Head of UGCC Department of External Relations in Ukraine.

UGCC Department of Information