It is very important not to let the voice of Ukraine be muffled: Head of the UGCC in the 91 st week of war
As hostilities in the Holy Land and Gaza Strip escalate, there is a danger that the tragedy of the war in Ukraine at the peak of the bloody confrontation may turn into a forgotten or suppressed war, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, stated in his traditional address on the 91 st week of the great bloody war waged by the Russian aggressor against an independent and free Ukraine.
Last week, the Head of the UGCC paid a working visit to Brussels, Belgium
“The message about the pain of the Ukrainian people is gradually dissipating from the news of European countries,” said the Head of the Church. “Therefore, it is critical to keep the voice of Ukraine from being muffled. Our Christian conscience today speaks to the hearts of people around the world. And we say once again: Ukraine stands! Ukraine fights! Ukraine prays!”
These days, several significant historical events have occurred for our people and our country.
“By God’s grace, I was in the European Parliament in Brussels at the very moment when the EU Commission opened the way for Ukraine’s membership in the European community. Having the opportunity to meet with the heads of the EU institutions, I once again conveyed the voice of the Ukrainian people about our unwavering desire to return to the family of free European nations,” said the spiritual leader.
The Head of the Church recalled an event that took place ten years ago when Yanukovych, the former president, wavered on the developmental vector of our nation. It was during this time that a delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations came to Brussels to convey the voice of the Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, and Muslims of Ukraine that we, as a single people, declare the European identity and volition of our state.
“And now, ten years afterwards, we hear about the openness of the European Union… I again introduced to the leaders of this community a document of ten years ago, which today is signed not by the heads of churches but by the blood of the best sons and daughters of the Ukrainian people. And the pain and aspirations of Ukraine are still among the priorities of the leaders of Europe. We want Ukrainians to finally feel heard, respected, and invited, and we want European solidarity to help us continue to move steadily towards Ukraine’s victory over the Russian aggressor.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that this Sunday, the Vatican marked the solemn completion of the Jubilee Year dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Josaphat Kuntsevych.
“These final celebrations have attained a powerful international significance,” said the Head of the Church. “As we have seen, the figure of St. Josaphat unites the peoples of Lithuania and Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. We heard an interesting phrase that he said about himself: he was birthed by Rus-Ukraine, raised by Lithuania, and crowned with martyrdom by the Belarusian land, in particular Polotsk and Vitebsk.”
This saint is still relatively unknown, so at the end of the celebrations, an important scientific conference was hosted at the Pontifical Oriental Institute. The best scholars from around the world shared sources that provide new insights into the figure of St. Josaphat, who, in this difficult period of life for our nation and our Church, once again took to the field of struggle for Ukraine’s independence and the future of our Church.
“We beseech you, St. Josaphat, intercede for our people and our Church in heaven,” the spiritual leader asked.
The UGCC Department for Information
