We are all equal yet different and this is the key to coping with complex tasks and service for the common good for Ukraine, - Head of the UGCC at the session of AUCCRO

So far AUCCRO is the biggest and the most authentic public organization in Ukraine with 15 Churches and religious organizations in its membership which represent 95 percent of religious organizations present in Ukraine. Experts claim that phenomenon of this organization which has no equivalent in the world is a staple of how people of different confession can unite for the sake of high purpose – spiritual renewal and maintaining inter-confessional peace in their country, what is precious nowadays.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that AUCCRO is a public alliance where everyone has equal rights and unites people of different confession in their pursuit of fostering their values – rights and freedoms of a person, justice and common good. That is why the Council takes part in solving important public and political issues, which Ukraine has been facing in terms of establishing institutions of democracy, promoting social justice, defending rights and freedoms, resisting challenges of the modern world.

The Head of the UGCC also informed about publishing a collection of important documents which the Council has worked on so far and expressed his gratitude to the scientists who were actively involved in the process of work.

“This collection indicates that Ukraine, on the level of All-Ukrainian Council of Churches, as well as inter-confessional one, has its own social doctrine with the reference to a language, patriotism, war, justice, namely many different themes which have always been relevant. All this shows how much of Good News our Council is, and not just for Ukraine but for the whole world. All-Ukrainian Council of Churches has an intensive international cooperation and dialogue. We meet with ambassadors of different countries regularly; work in different directions and hope that Ukraine will benefit a lot from it”, the Head of the Church summed up.

Metropolitan Epiphaniy, the Head of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine also delivered an acceptance speech.

“Half of the decade AUCRRO has not just been existing, it works actively and fruitfully, promoting social and inter-confessional dialogue. Voluntary actions, equality in membership, consensus in coming to an agreement, respecting an identity of each member of the Council and focus on issues which the Council strives to achieve commonly – are the core principles of the organization. All these virtues facilitated the Council’s exhibition of maturity, advocacy of justice in crucial moments of recent history of Ukraine”.

Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskiy, who represents the Roman Catholic Church in AUCCRO recalled that right now Ukraine is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of Pope John Paul II visit to Ukraine.

“That was a special visit and exactly in those days the Pope was meeting with All-Ukrainian Council of Churches. During that meeting the Pope said that Ukraine is a school of a dialogue and it mastered that dialogue throughout its difficult history. Looking back at John Paul II I would like to recall the words he said in Ukraine now and again: to build more bridges than walls, as walls unite and promotes a constructive dialogue. Thus, I emphasize that our dialogue is not in the Council itself but between society and government. Our task in this dialogue is to help not to deviate from the basis. Governments change themselves, as well as ideologies are adopted and rejected, whereas in our consensus we have this feeling of basis set by the Lord”.

The Head of the UGCC as the chairman of AUCCRO thanked all for their presence, speeches and greetings addressed to All-Ukrainian Council of Churches on its jubilee.

The UGCC Department for Information