UGCC Head: "Our monastic orders showed themselves the spiritual lungs of our Church"

The Major Archbishop during his annual meeting with the monastic orders noted that Ukrainian people started needing prayer and turned towards prayer.  "Therefore, I want to thank you that our monastic orders were always close to our people, were united with our people in prayer," he said.

The Head of the Church remembered how the monks and the  nuns were on the Maidan.  "The came in large groups, in order to be there, to support the people.  The Church announced an on-going fast and prayers.  And the first who responded to this appeal were the monastic orders.  Truly, our monastic orders became the spiritual lungs of the Church.   It is precisely thanks to the prayers that we were able to continue standing and to accomplish as much as we did.  And the Maidan overcame, because it prayed.  I am convinced that our people will overcome because they pray.  "And who, if not the monastic orders, are the leaders and teachers of  truly deep prayer," noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

He also added that the spiritual people were also "the force of quick response in the Church."  He thanked all the spiritual people who in answer to the first appeal, went to Crimea.  "And it is precisely thanks to the monastic orders that we continued, are continuing, and will continue to hold on to our Church in Crimea.  These people are constantly under the watchful eyes of various authorities.  These are the heroes of our times," emphasized the Head of the Church.

UGCC Department of Information