“Without Annunciation there is no Resurrection” – His Beatitude Sviatoslav celebrates his first Divine Liturgy as Archbishop of Kyiv.

“On my way to this holy church, I was observing our Patriarchal cathedral and the church of the Annunciation next to it. The latter one is really a very small church, and maybe it is mysterious in some way. But, without Annunciation there is no Resurrection. Because with the Incarnation, as He enters into human history, the Son of God begins the work of salvation which is completed in His death and resurrection. The same thing may be observed here. Here this small church [of the Annunciation] gives a beginning to this small community, to the parish community of our Patriarchal cathedral. However, it will only be completed in the Resurrection to which our Lord wants to bring us”.   These words were said by His Beatitude Sviatoslav during the Pontifical Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish feast in the church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. Most Rev. Josyf (Milian), auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv Archeparchy, together with the numerous clergy of the Archeparchy, co-celebrated the first Pontifical Divine Liturgy of His Beatiude Sviatoslav as the Archbishop of Kyiv Archeparchy. Many clergy, along with many lay people, members of the parish community, took part in the Liturgy.   “Today the Church of Christ is commemorating one historical event which inaugurated our salvation” – said the Head of the Church. His Beatitude Sviatoslav began his sermon telling how the angel of God came to Mary in the godforsaken town of Nazareth, “At that moment heavenly, divine reality entered into human history”   “We probably would not fully comprehend this event, if it were not for the names specifically given to us by the evangelist Luke. The angel has a very special name – Gabriel, which comes from Hebrew גַּבְרִיאֵל‎ meaning “the power of God”. And what the angel tells Mary is not merely a good thought or just a nice idea. Instead, he is the bearer of the real and almighty power of God. What he pronounces to her came true. The absolute power of God descends and God’s Word becomes flesh” – explained the UGCC Primate.  He carefully pointed out that “due to this supernatural strength, this absolute power of God, as was signified by Gabriel’s name, the Son of God becomes the son of man. It was the moment that the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity occurs, the New Testament begins, and the beginning of our salvation takes place.”   His Beatitude pointed out that for us, Christians of the new millennium, Mary is a prototype of Christ’s Church, because she accepts the strength of God and is overflowed with it. “This strength of God, this powerful and efficient Gospel, is proclaimed today here and now in this holy church. Celebrating the feast of the Annunciation we are called, following the example of Mary and the angel Gabriel, to welcome the strength of the Gospel. That is why today we are talking about the new Evangelization, about the renewal of our being contemporary, by this heavenly strength.”   His Beatitude also mentioned that for him the feast of the Annunciation was very special. For it was on that day he celebrated the anniversary of his Episcopal consecration. “It happened in such an interesting way. Interesting in that the angel, which came to me through our Beatitude Lubomyr, radically changed all my life. Easily I can bear witness that this heavenly power is very real, very potent, and it can change the whole world” – emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav.   Greeting the parishioners of the Annunciation church with their parish feast, the Head of the UGCC wished that they may all learn how to say “yes” to the holy power of God in the same submissive manner the Virgin Mary did. “Then they may be sure that the divine power of God, which today enters the body of the Church, will make you so powerful that you will be heard not only on the other bank of the Dnipro, but all over Ukraine” – said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.   Most Rev. Josyf (Milian), the auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv Archeparchy, greeting the UGCC Primate at the end of the Liturgy, recalled that His Beatitude Sviatoslav was consecrated a Bishop on Annunciation Day. Now on the same day, the new Head of the Church celebrates for the first time the Divine Liturgy as the ruling Archbishop of Kyiv.” We are imploring Almighty God to send Your Beatitude this immense, incredible strength so you may keep the Church in good spiritual health. That being yourself healthy spiritually and physically, you may guide our Church in great courage and wisdom for many happy years of life”, - stated Bishop Josyf.   After his first Divine Liturgy as the ruling Archbishop of Kyiv Archeparchy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav headed the solemn procession around the Annunciation church at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kyiv and blessed the holy water on the occasion of the parish feast.  

UGCC Information Department

 

In the photo you can see the Annunciation church at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ