Homily of His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok on the Occasion of Taking Possession of the Titular Church of Santa Sofia
On Sunday, June 22, on the Feast of All Saints in Ukraine, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was held at Santa Sophia Cathedral in Rome on the occasion of taking possession of the titular church by His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok.
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
Dear Brother Bishops, Very Reverend and Rev Fathers, Monastics and Religious and seminarians,
Your Excellencies members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of organisations, distinguished guests,
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today is a day of great joy, deep gratitude, and sacred responsibility.
Standing here before you in the Church of Santa Sofia—the spiritual heart of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community in Rome—I am filled with emotion. To take possession of this historic Titular Church is not merely to accept a title, but to embrace a profound connection with the generations of faithful who have gathered here, especially those who carried the cross of exile, persecution, and displacement. Although I take possession as my Titular Church, it remains the seat of the Patriarch in the Eternal City of Rome.
Santa Sofia is more than a building. It is a living witness to the resilience and hope of the Ukrainian people. Built in the 1960s under the vision and leadership of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, who endured the gulags of the Soviet Union, this church was meant to be a spiritual homeland for Ukrainians scattered across the world. Here, in this very sanctuary, tears have mingled with prayers, and exile has been transformed into communion with the universal Church. Today, I step into this inheritance with humility and reverence, aware of the great legacy I have been entrusted to honour.
On this same Sunday, the Feast of All Saints in Ukraine, we celebrate the countless known and unknown witnesses to the Gospel who have shone forth from our homeland. Some are canonized, others remain hidden to the world but radiant before God. They are martyrs, confessors, teachers, parents, monks and nuns, priests and bishops, children and elders—people of every walk of life who chose Christ above all else. This feast, unique to our Church, reminds us that holiness is not the privilege of a few, but the vocation of all.
The Epistle from Saint Paul to the Romans (8:28–39) is one of the most powerful declarations of Christian hope in the entire New Testament. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul asks. He lists trials and sufferings—persecution, hunger, danger, sword—but his answer is unequivocal: nothing can separate us from the love of God. For our people, who have known exile, repression, and now war, these words are balm and strength. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, God walks with us. Even when evil seems to triumph, love remains victorious. This message rings especially true today for Ukraine, as our nation continues to endure the tragic and unjust war brought upon it. We pray fervently, together with all the saints, for an end to this violence and the coming of a just peace—a peace founded not merely on ceasefires or political agreements, but on truth, dignity and justice.
The Gospel passage from Matthew (4:18–23) recounts the calling of the first disciples. Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and says to Simon Peter and Andrew: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Without hesitation, they leave everything. This moment—simple, direct, life-changing—speaks deeply to every Christian vocation. It is the moment of encounter, when the Lord’s gaze meets ours, and we know that life can no longer remain the same.
Today, we are blessed to witness such a moment of vocation as Sviatoslav Pastushchak is ordained to the diaconate. Dear Sviatoslav, your “yes” to Christ in this sacred ministry is a gift to the Church. The deacon is not merely a step toward priesthood; he is a servant of the Word, the altar, and the poor. You are called to be the hands of Christ in the world, especially to the suffering, the forgotten, and the voiceless. As you take this step on the road to priesthood, know that you do so not alone. You are surrounded by our prayers, our support, and the example of all the saints—especially those of our Ukrainian Church who ministered with courage under persecution. May your ministry be joyful, faithful, and fruitful.
As I take possession of this church, I also receive a renewed mission: to be a bridge—between East and West, past and future, heaven and earth. I do so not alone, but with all of you. Together, we are called to proclaim the Risen Christ with our lives. As Pope Leo XIV reminded us at the beginning of his pontificate: “The Church must be a sanctuary of hope, a voice of peace, and a light that no darkness can overcome.” These words challenge us to be bold in faith and tender in love, to walk with those who suffer, and to radiate Christ’s presence in every corner of the world.
To our brothers and sisters suffering in Ukraine and in other places of war and displacement—in the Middle East, Africa, and beyond—we say: you are not forgotten. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. From their sacrifice will blossom new life, new vocations, new holiness.
As we venerate the saints of Ukraine today, and as we entrust our steps to God’s providence, let us never forget what Saint Paul assures us: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
May this Basilica of Santa Sofia continue to be a beacon of faith, unity, and hope—for the Ukrainian Church, for the whole Catholic Church, and for the world.
Amen.
