Head of the UGCC: Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv is a Symbol of the Ukrainian Church’s Immortality and the Spirit Bestowed by God on Our People
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv stands as a prophetic voice of the coming resurrection and glory! This cathedral embodies the good news—the Gospel of God’s Word—that, animated by the Risen Savior Himself, we will endure, heal our wounds, feed those in need, and embrace and accept all the displaced! It is a prophetic word of victory for the Ukrainian people, a symbol of rebuilding all that was destroyed, a beacon of hope for a just peace, and a testament to God’s presence among us.
This was emphasized by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, in his sermon on August 18, the 8th Sunday after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the Feast of the Consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.
Reflecting on the Gospel passage (Matthew 14:14–22), His Beatitude Sviatoslav explained that today’s scripture “proclaims to us God, who is the provider and nourisher of His people, the Lord Jesus Christ, who grants man access to the very Source of his life.”
According to the Patriarch, the Gospel reading reveals three dimensions of this event: messianic, ecclesiastical, and eucharistic.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that we witness Christ, much like Moses, multiplying the loaves. He further explained that in the church community, each of us has received gifts from God that we are called to share with our neighbors.
“All the gifts we have received must be given to those in need. And you will see: God will miraculously multiply what He has given. Then no one in the community of believers will ever suffer from extreme need,” the Hierarch emphasized.
The Head of the Church also highlighted that Christ reveals Himself as the true sustenance for humanity: “He is the highest priest—simultaneously the altar, the priest, and the sacrifice. He is the true nourishment for mankind!”
Marking the 11th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv, His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that this church is “a symbol and sign of the immortality of the Ukrainian Church and the spirit that the Lord God has bestowed upon our people,” as well as “a sign and symbol of the resurrection of our Church and our people after centuries of destruction and persecution, particularly here in Kyiv.”
According to the preacher, the main church of the UGCC has not only become an architectural jewel of Kyiv and the largest church in the city but also served as a “Patriarchal refuge” during the Revolution of Dignity. Today, Kyivans, especially those on the Left Bank, recognize it as the city’s finest bomb shelter.
However, above all, the Patriarchal Cathedral is a space where the Lord God shows mercy to His people and feeds them, said the Head of the UGCC. “Here, in the Patriarchal Cathedral, we see the realization of all three dimensions of the God’s word proclaimed today. We witness Christ as a new Moses, present among us, guiding people through the desert of a terrible war. As the spring of life and resurrection, He is with us—no death, no disaster will have power over us. If we, as a Church, are a space of gift exchange, no one will leave this house of God empty-handed, but with goods that are both earthly and heavenly. Here, on this holy throne, Christ is present every day, every minute, offering Himself to humanity in the Sacrament of the Communion of His Body and Blood,” the Patriarch said.
At the end of the Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the Lord God for the gift of the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ for the entire Church. He then called for prayers to remember all those who contributed to the construction of the cathedral: “Some have already gone to heaven to receive their heavenly reward, while many are still among us,” the Hierarch remarked, adding, “This temple is not yet complete; it requires much effort to reveal all the beauty that the Lord God wants to grant through it.”
The Father and Head of the UGCC expressed special gratitude to Bishop Yosyf Milan, who is tasked with completing the construction of the cathedral, as well as to Mr. Vasyl Bukatyuk, who is currently heading the construction directorate. He also mentioned His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar, “who rests like a cornerstone in the crypt of the cathedral,” and thanked all the benefactors and donors of the main shrine of the UGCC.
On this day, His Beatitude Sviatoslav ordained two deacons, Oleh Karpenko and Vasyl Pidlubnyi, to the priesthood during the Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
“I wish you, fathers, to be truly worthy of the high calling you have received. May the Lord God bless you so that you may constantly grow in this gift,” the Primate wished the newly ordained priests.
The UGCC Department for Information
