Head of the UGCC during prayer for the unity of Christians: There is so much that unites us - one God, one faith, one baptism.

Monday, 27 January 2020, 11:33
Pope Francis wants to tell us today that the Word of God is an inexhaustible treasure of Christian unity. The Word of God through the Apostle Paul tells us there is already so much that unites us - one God, one faith, one baptism. The Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said this at the UGCC Church of St. Basil the Great in Kyiv during the Inter-denominational Prayer Service, held in the Week of Prayers for the Unity of Christians.
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The main topic of reflection and slogan of this year's Ecumenical Week were the words from the Acts of the Apostles: "Let us be merciful" (Acts 28, 2). Bishop Olexandr (Drabynko), Metropolitan Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky and Vyshnevsky (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) expressed his thoughts about those words.

“Let us be merciful as our Father is merciful. These words are repeated many times in the Scriptures and for us Christians are especially important. They sound from the mouth of the Savior Himself as a call to imitate Him,” said Bishop Olexandr.

He noted that church of Ukraine is divided today. "We cherish our own identities. Identities, which, unfortunately, are often denominational rather than evangelical. And it is sad - sad, because, by giving preference to the minor things, we sometimes, lose ourselves as Christians,” said the preacher.

According to him, the human personality can only realize himself in a state of communication, through sacrificial openness to God and other people.

"To exist in openness and movement to another person. That is the main message of Pope Francis. He calls us to rediscover evangelical love and mercy. He calls us to see in another person - often a person of a different culture and outlook - our neighbor, that is, a person who needs our sympathy and help,” he said.

"Mercy unites," said Bishop Olexandr. "It unites us with God and our neighbor."

At the end of the prayer, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the Lord for sending His Holy Spirit, the teacher of prayer; the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of unity in love and mercy.

“This Sunday was first proclaimed by the Holy Father Pope Francis as the Sunday of God's Word. The Pope wants to tell us today that the Word of God is an inexhaustible treasure of Christian unity. Regardless of the denomination, all Christians read and listen to the same Word of God,” said the Primate.

The Head of the UGCC thanked Bishop Olexandr (Drabynko) who spoke the Word of God this evening. He also asked to convey the words of gratitude to the Head of Orthodox Church of Ukraine that the Synod of this church had established a department of external church relations. 

He also thanked the brothers of the Roman Catholic Church. “Together we are called to witness this active Christian love,” added His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

The Head of the Church thanked the Protestant brothers and the representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church for their presence.

"And for the first time, we have a representative of an interesting community of missionary Jews. Tomorrow the whole world will honor the victims of the Holocaust. The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz - a concentration camp where so many Jewish people were killed, as well as priests, monks, nuns of different peoples and nationalities,” said the Primate.

The UGCC Department for Information

 


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