His Beatitude Sviatoslav Met with Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrid Šimonite
On September 27, in Vilnius, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, met with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ms. Ingrid Šimonite. The meeting was also attended by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Grusas, and the Head of the Pastoral Migration Department of the UGCC, Bishop Stepan Sus.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Mrs. Ingrida Šimonite and Archbishop Gintaras Grusas
At the meeting, a topic of acute concern was Ukrainian refugees who have found asylum in Lithuania. Today, about 70 thousand displaced people reside in this country. It is necessary to emphasize that there are no refugee camps in Lithuania. The country, with a population of 2.5 million, accepted all Ukrainians with open hearts and homes.
According to the Lithuanian Prime Minister, every effort is made to ensure that Ukrainian women find decent work and that Ukrainian children attend school. Over the past year and a half, four schools have been opened in Lithuania, where children study according to the Ukrainian curriculum.
Among other things, His Beatitude Sviatoslav and Mrs. Ingrida Šimonite discussed the role of the UGCC in the life of the Ukrainian community in Lithuania, as well as the special anniversary of the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Josaphat, whose figure represents a call for the unity of churches and peoples — Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Polish and Belarusian.
Another pressing issue at the meeting concerned the forthcoming challenges the Ukrainian people will face. The parties discussed the needs of people arising after the de-occupation of Ukraine’s territories, as well as the necessity for all measures to overcome the war’s trauma within Ukrainian society.
In a commentary to the UGCC Department for Information, His Beatitude Sviatoslav shared his impressions of the meeting with the head of the Lithuanian government: “From the very beginning, we felt a sense of mutual friendship. Though it was an official meeting, it was very welcoming and friendly. I want to thank Mrs. Prime Minister, her government, and the people of Lithuania for their great support for the people of Ukraine. Today, Lithuania is a strategic partner for us, as well as a great advocate, someone who speaks in the name and for the welfare of Ukraine before the European community and the international community.”
At the end of the meeting, the Father and Head of the UGCC presented the Prime Minister of Lithuania with symbolic gifts from Ukraine — an amber rosary, a book about the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and an icon of the Mother of God of Perpetual Help with the little Jesus in her arms as a symbol of a modern Ukrainian refugee — a mother with a child seeking refuge.
The UGCC Department for Information,photo by the press service of the Lithuanian government
