His Beatitude Sviatoslav Brings Relics of St. Volodymyr to St. Sophia Cathedral in Rome
A historic event took place on July 6 at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Sophia in Rome: His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, solemnly brought the relics of St. Volodymyr, Equal to the Apostles, into the church, accompanied by the bishops of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
“Today, during the Synod of Bishops of our Church in Rome, we solemnly brought into this holy temple the relics of the Equal-to-the-Apostles, Great Prince Volodymyr. The Volodymyr who was once taken from Ukraine by Moscow occupiers is returning today to his Church,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in his sermon.
He emphasized the deep symbolism of St. Volodymyr’s presence in the pro-cathedral, which stands as the spiritual heart of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome. Built by Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, the church serves as a powerful symbol of the unbreakable bond with St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.
The Primate recalled that in his will, Patriarch Josyf had envisioned the unification of all the Churches of Kyiv Christianity: “He wished to be buried in St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. For now, our Patriarch rests in St. George Cathedral in Lviv. But the day will come when he will be solemnly laid to rest in our mother cathedral, in golden-domed Kyiv.”
This event carries even deeper meaning, as this year the UGCC marks the 30th anniversary of the revival of the Kyiv Metropolia and the 20th anniversary of the return of the Church’s Head to Kyiv. In this context, His Beatitude Sviatoslav stressed that the presence of the holy prince stands as a witness to the faithfulness and endurance of Kyiv Christianity: “Today, Prince Volodymyr himself declares that the Church born in the baptismal waters of the Dnipro River—waters he gave to our people—is alive. We are the heirs of that Kyiv Christianity.”
His Beatitude also underscored the importance of communion with the Apostolic See, a defining characteristic of the Church of Kyiv: “The Church of Kyiv lives out its tradition fully and visibly in communion with the successor of the Apostle Peter. That communion has preserved this Church through the centuries. And today, it flourishes in Ukraine and across the world, offering perpetual help to her children as a Mother. St. Volodymyr’s presence among us affirms that the confessors, martyrs, and great saints of Kyiv Christianity stand with us today.”
The relics of St. Volodymyr the Great were received by the Head of the UGCC on January 23, 2025, from the hands of Bishop Oleksandr Drabynko, Metropolitan of Pereyaslav and Vyshneve of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, accompanied by Ihor Lysov, the chairman of the parish council of the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Upon receiving the relic, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said: “The relics of St. Volodymyr are a sacred treasure for us, for we are all children of the Church born of Volodymyr’s baptism.”
The UGCC Department for Information
