Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Prylbychi: “Holy and righteous Metropolitan Andrey, teacher of pure love for God and the land, pray before God for us.”
“Today, we are all together—our Christian family, a community from different parts of Ukraine and the world—in the village of Prylbychi to thank God for His gift: on this very day in this village, we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the birth of a great man, a holy man, a great leader of our Church—the righteous Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.” This was emphasized by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, during the Liturgy marking the anniversary in the metropolitan’s home village in the Lviv region.
The Patriarch was concelebrated by bishops of the UGCC from Ukraine and abroad, as well as the auxiliary bishop of the Mukachevo Eparchy and numerous priests.
In his sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that Metropolitan Andrey remains a “great unknown” for many Ukrainians.
Quoting his predecessor, Patriarch Lubomyr Husar, the Primate noted that this anniversary is a good opportunity to better understand “this great figure, who is still a source of life for us, Ukrainian Christians, who are once again fighting for our freedom, right to exist, dignity, and statehood.”
Commenting on the Gospel account of Christ’s warning about “the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod,” the Head of the UGCC observed that the disciples understood the Savior’s words as a hint about the lack of bread—they “thought not about God, but about what they could take from Him.” “Do not think about bread—think about Him! Do not think about how to use God for your own needs, but about how to love Him. How can one love God? This question runs like a crimson thread through all the books of Holy Scripture. It is a fundamental question of any religious life,” the preacher explained.
When asking the faithful whether it is possible to love God selflessly, the bishop noted that throughout history, people have often used religious institutions as a social ladder—for their own benefit, power, and status. “The Lord became man to teach us selfless love. For only such love is the true foundation on which we can and must build our relationship with God. The Lord wants us to love Him,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav, adding: “If we seek convenience, privileges, titles in the Church, if we fight for primacy or for places around the altar, Christ says to us: ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.’”
The Head of the Church also drew attention to the danger of hypocrisy in relationships, especially among young people preparing for marriage. “If the bride and groom promise each other eternal love, but this hides a desire to use the other—their family, property, or influence—then they are in serious danger,” warned the Primate. “Christ speaks to them today: ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!’” he emphasized.
“If we dedicate our lives to God in the priesthood or monastic life, promise obedience, purity, poverty, and then take it all back, stop listening, long to be like the oligarchs of this world, or want to live for our own pleasure—this is what Christ is saying to us today. If churches and Christians are fighting over property in Ukraine during the war, if churches are competing with earthly authorities for privileges and honors, trying to become a state church, then Christ is addressing Christians in Ukraine today: ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod,’” emphasized the Father and Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that “the figure of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky is the embodiment of this word of the Holy Gospel, which he preached in our parishes, cities, and villages,” and people “came to see the count who renounced everything.” “In his spiritual choice, as he himself said, hearing the voice of his ancestors, the Sheptytsky family, he descended from the pedestals of the count’s life in the society of that time and became one of us—to be everything for everyone. Therefore, everything he did, everything he said and taught was genuine. Because Metropolitan Andrey did it for God and out of love for his people—he wanted to give everything he had, everything he was, and asked for nothing in return. That is why he became the one who shaped the face of our Church at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries—the first global shepherd who united our community in the diaspora,” emphasized the Head of the UGCC.
During his sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav also read a unique document, which was handed over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, during this year’s Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome. In it, Metropolitan Andrey writes to Pope Pius XI: “I am departing from Rome, having been warned that upon my return to Lviv I will be killed. I accept this death as God’s will and gladly give my life to the Lord for the union of the Churches, to implore from God the peace of Christ between the Catholics of our countries, which, sad to say, are divided by injustices and age-old animosity.”
“Righteous, holy Metropolitan Andrey, teacher of pure love for God and for the land, pray to God for us sinners,” concluded the Head of the UGCC.
After the Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented a yellow pectoral cross to Fr. Andriy Stadnytsky, the rector of the church in honor of Andrey and Blessed Klymentiy Sheptytsky in Prylbychi. The priest thanked the Primate for his visit and prayers, presenting him with a painting by local artist Natalia Dyukh on behalf of the parish. Representatives of the local authorities of Yavoriv also expressed their gratitude to the Head of the UGCC, presenting him with a painting depicting the church made of stone.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav then announced the winners of the Andrey Sheptytsky Grant from the Yavorivshchyna Foundation for the implementation of social projects in the community. Each winner will receive 100,000 hryvnias.
The celebration concluded with the blessing of water and a newly installed cross in the churchyard. The UGCC Department for Information
