When we cause damage to the environment – we take the future away from our children and further generations, His Beatitude Sviatoslav

This was emphasized by Head and Father of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Zarvanytsia, while meeting youth on Saturday, July 13, and answering the question of how the UGCC can improve its work in terms of ecology.

“Discussing an environmental protection policy and ecology itself, we have to understand that life in each part of our country is indeed on the edge of an ecological catastrophe. We are the country, which survived Chornobyl, effects of what have not been diminished yet. And who, despite Ukrainians, were to feel how damaged this land, where we live, is. We are responsible for the land we live on, the air we breathe, the forests which give us an opportunity to breathe freely”, mentioned the Major Archbishop.

Then he added: “On the part of the Catechism of the UGCC “Christ is our Pasch” we talk about a sin against the environment: the one who causes damages to the environment – commits a sin and, ultimately, needs to confess it. We sometimes do not realize that by damaging the environment – we take the future away from our children and further generations. In our Church we have a tradition to mark a Day of God the Creator, which we celebrate September 1 according to the Gregorian calendar and September 14 according to the Julian calendar. In keeping with the Church calendar - this is the beginning of a new Church year. Since it is not obvious for everyone that the world we live in is a creation of God. And if we want to be Christians and respect God, we must respect what He created”.

As His Beatitude Sviatoslav states, the UGCC launches a variety of ecological initiatives. Consequently, the Archbishop encouraged all youth organizations, movements and parochial communities to carry out such ecological action, so called challenge at least once a year.

The UGCC Department for Information