UGCC Head made a pastoral visit to the Greek-Catholic Exarchate in Greece

On May 10^th, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) began his pastoral visit to the Greek-Catholic Exarchate in Athens.  During these days the Ukrainian community of St. Mykola, which gathers at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, celebrated its 15^th anniversary.  It is exactly 25 years ago that the Sisters of St. Basil the Great arrived in Athens and established a Ukrainian school at the parish.

At E.Venizelos Airport, His Beatitude Sviatoslav was met by Bishop Dmitrios, Apostolic Exarch for Greek-Catholics in Greece, Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), Eparch of Sambir-Drohobych, Archmandrate Lubomyr, and the advisor to the Ukrainian Embassy in the Greek Republic Yevhen Ostashevsky.

“The visit of His Beatitude Sviatoslav is particularly significant for Ukrainians in Athens because it was exactly 15 years ago that the then young priest Sviatoslav Shevchuk, while a student at Rome, laid the foundations of this community; it was thanks to his efforts that the Basilian Sisters arrived here to assist Ukrainian children and established a Ukrainian school.  Therefore, it is with special joy that the Ukrainian community greets His Beatitude Sviatoslav   in order to together with him thank Almighty God for his amazing craft and fatherly care,” emphasized the press-release on occasion of the visit.

Joining the celebrations in Athens were Archmandrite Clara Miriam with advisors from Rome, Reverend Mother Superior Mykolaya from Ukraine with nuns and priests who served in Athens, and numerous guests.  That evening His Beatitude Sviatoslav visited the Pammakaristos Monastery.  In the church UGCC Primate said a prayer for the nun settlers and turned to the audience with a homily.

On May 11^th, UGCC Head led a Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Annunciation Residence of the Basilian Sisters.  After the Liturgy, UGCC Primate met with the teaching staff and students of the Ukrainian school.  In the course of the conversation he shared his reminiscences of the beginnings of the school and gave all his blessing.

Then together with Bishop Dmitrios (Salakhasa) and Yaroslav (Pryriz) as well as nuns and priests, His Beatitude Sviatoslav visited the Apostolic Nuncio in Greece, Archbishop Edward Adams.  The Ukrainian ambassador to Greece, Volodymyr Shkurov joined them.

The Apostolic Nuncio informed Bishop Dmitrios and all present that the Congregation of Eastern Churches awarded a five-year scholarship for studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University (PUG) in Rome to Ivan Lykhopater, a parishioner of the Ukrainian community in Athens.  This news was particularly happily greeted by Bishop Dmitrios, since it is the first vocation in the last 50 years.

In the evening, His Beatitude Sviatoslav participated in a conference dedicated to the 15^th anniversary of the Ukrainian Catholic community in Athens and prayed the Great Vespers.

The culmination of His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s pastoral visit to Athens was the Divine Liturgy for the Ukrainian congregation of Saint Mykola.  Concelebrants with His Beatitude Sviatoslav were Archbishop Edward Adams, Archbishop of Athens Mykolay, Bishop Dmitrios and Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), informed Sister Monica.

In the sermon UGCC Primate talked about the Sunday Gospel, which described the meeting of the Resurrected Christ with Apostle Thomas.  “Similarly, we in receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist, touch and receive Christ, wounded and resurrected, who embraces us with his mercy and love,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

Ambassador Volodymyr Shkurov and his wife participated in the Liturgy.  In the evening, in the yard of the church, there was a concert dedicated to the 15^th anniversary of the Ukrainian community in Athens and to Mother’s Day.

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