Eparchial Pilgrimage to Canberra 2025 “Renewal in the Holy Spirit”
On June 7–8, the All-Australian Eparchial Pilgrimage of the clergy and faithful of the Melbourne Eparchy took place at St. Volodymyr’s Church in Canberra. This year’s pilgrimage was held under the slogan “Renewal in the Holy Spirit” and brought together participants from different parts of Australia.
The Eparchial Pilgrimage to Canberra was attended by Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne; Fr. Simon Ckuj, Protosynkellos of the Melbourne Eparchy; Fr. Andriy Mykytyuk, Synkellos for Laity and Administrator of the Cathedral in Melbourne; Fr. Ihor Holovko, Synkellos for Clergy and Administrator of the Parish in Perth; Fr. Ruslan Babiy, Administrator of the Parish in Ardeer; Fr. Iurii Tychenok, Administrator of the Parish in Sydney; Fr. Justin McDonnell, assistant priest in Sydney; Fr. Stefan Sapun, Administrator of the Parish in Brisbane; Fr. Laurence Foote from Sydney; Protodeacon Edward Kostraby from Melbourne; and Deacon Vitaly Leheta from Sydney.
A special guest at this year’s pilgrimage was Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Exarch of Donetsk. The pilgrims were warmly welcomed by local parishioners led by the administrator of the church, Fr. Vasyl Motrichenko.
Fr. Michael Solomko, head of the Consistory of the Australian-New Zealand Diocese of the UAOC in the Diaspora, also joined the Divine Liturgy on Saturday.
The pilgrimage began on Saturday, June 7, with the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, led by Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Exarch of Donetsk. In his homily, Bishop Maksym emphasised the special nature of the pilgrimage as a time of silence and reflection: “When we think about the pilgrimage, we realise that it is a special moment, unlike any other in our lives. Since ancient times, pilgrims have gone on pilgrimages to seek an encounter with God. This expectation of an encounter on a long journey made everyone reflect on their lives. The time of the journey is also a time of silence, because when you are out of breath, you cannot speak. And then you begin to contemplate the beauty that surrounds you and ask yourself many questions.”
He shared his experience of ministry in eastern Ukraine, recounting a trip with a young priest to the military on the front line, where everyone received Confession and Communion, and gave an example of how powerful our prayer is, urging those present never to tyre of being people of prayer.
In conclusion, Bishop Maksym asked the audience a profound question about the state of their spiritual life, emphasising the need for repentance and participation in the sacraments: “Sometimes we ask ourselves, ‘Am I really living spiritually?’ Or perhaps my soul died long ago, and only my body walks this earth? This pilgrimage is a direct question to my conscience.” He emphasised that without sincere conversion and prayer, participation in the pilgrimage loses its meaning: “If during this pilgrimage, those who came here do not receive the Sacrament of Confession, the Holy Eucharist, and do not pray for Ukraine, then all of this is just a big show. And all this theatre comes at the cost of my life and the lives of many young men and women who are defending our land in Ukraine today.”
On the first day of the pilgrimage, after the Liturgy, pilgrims had the opportunity to participate in age-group discussions, communal rosary prayers, Great Vespers, and Taizé prayers and ended the day with a traditional bonfire.
On Sunday, June 8, the feast of Pentecost, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated, presided over by Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok. The preacher was again Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, who, reflecting on the meaning of the feast of Pentecost, called on those present to share their faith with others, like the apostles: “Today, each of us is called, leaving this jubilee church, to become a witness of God’s love and the meaning of human life. Let us ask God for the strength to be his witnesses, to be instruments in his hands.”
At the end of the Liturgy, Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok thanked Bishop Maksym for his profound teachings during these two days of pilgrimage: “As a witness to Christ’s resurrection, but also a witness to the events taking place in Ukraine, you have been able to convey so much to us. God’s grace flowed from your lips to all of us,” and wished him and the entire Donetsk Exarchate the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Afterwards, the bishops blessed those present with the relics of Blessed Volodymyr Pryima and the Pratulin Martyrs, which are permanently kept in St. Volodymyr’s Church. Then Bishop Maksym sprinkled the attendees with holy water.
Since St. Volodymyr’s Parish in Canberra has been granted the gift of a plenary indulgence and is also a pilgrimage church for the Jubilee Year 2025, pilgrims were able to receive this grace. These two days in Canberra were a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth and enrichment—a time when Ukrainians from different parts of Australia united in prayer for peace in Ukraine and deepened their faith.
Press office of the Melbourne Eparchy
