Australian bishops visit war ravaged Kyiv, Irpin and Bucha
On August 10, 2023, after previously visiting Lviv, an Australian delegation of Catholic bishops and laypeople arrived in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. During the visit, the bishops also visited the war-ravaged cities of Irpin and Bucha.
Delegation members primarily visited the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv, which has become a symbol of unity for all Greek Catholics worldwide. During the Revolution of Dignity, it played an outstanding role as a “Patriarchal Haven,” providing shelter to many participants of the Maidan. Since February 24, 2022, it has served as a bomb shelter for people regardless of their religious affiliation. After the prayer in the cathedral, the delegation also visited the crypt where His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar is buried.
At the same time, Bishop Yosyf Milian, Protosyncellus of the Kyiv Archeparchy, and Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Syncellus for Clergy, met with Australian bishops at the Archdiocesan Curia.
During the meeting, Bishop Yosyf Milian spoke about the life and ministry of the parishes and clergy of the Kyiv Archeparchy of the UGCC during the war and expressed gratitude to the bishops of Australia for their unwavering support of Ukraine.
The Australian bishops assured of their further prayers and support for the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in its efforts to serve to heal war wounds.
Representatives of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference visited Irpin, a visible sign of “brotherly love” of our northeastern neighbor that bears the wounds of the Russkiy mir. They prayed for the city’s defenders and innocent civilians at the Irpin cemetery. During the prayer, a heartfelt meeting was held with the mother of one of the defenders of Irpin, who thanked the Australian bishops for their prayers, support for Ukraine, and solidarity with our people.
“The most remarkable thing is the personal encounters with people and the stories of each of them. The value of a person and their life in time of war is something that the international community must fight for. Therefore, the world should make every effort to stop this war as quickly as possible,” the delegation members constantly emphasized, sympathizing with the pain of the Ukrainian people.
The day before, on August 9, Australian Catholic bishops visited Lviv to express their support and closeness to the Ukrainian people during the brutal and delusional war with the Russian occupiers on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
according to the press service of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC
