“Let us pray that our Church will never lack spiritual fathers”: Head of the UGCC at the Kyiv Three Saints Theological Seminary
On June 18, on the 2 nd Sunday after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, visited the Kyiv Three Saints Theological Seminary in Kniazhychi, where he presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, blessed the cassocks of the first-year students and awarded diplomas to the seminary graduates.
In his sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav interpreted the meaning of Jesus’ call to “Follow me!”, explained the significance of Christ’s coming to people, and emphasized the importance and need for spiritual fatherhood in the context of Father’s Day.
He drew attention to the image of God that Matthew describes today: “This is the image of God who travels, walks, and comes to man. The image of God passes through each person’s personal life, walking with his people. Moreover, He leads them.” Explaining the significance of this triumphant, mysterious, saving, healing procession of Jesus Christ, the preacher noted that the Holy Fathers, in particular of the fourth century, saw the image of the Eucharist in this image.
According to the Head of the UGCC, the fruit of this ‘transitus Domini’ (Latin for ‘coming of the Lord’) is the transformation of man. “God comes for a man to thrive. We call this blossoming of a person in the presence of God, who came to him, a vocation. God calls to reveal all the gifts of the Holy Spirit with which He replenishes us,” the hierarch said.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav admonished against the danger of wasting or missing this special moment of Jesus Christ’s coming to us, particularly in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
“Christ calls fishermen to a special vocation and ministry — to spiritual fatherhood,” the Head of the Church said and added that the vocation to spiritual fatherhood is a special meaning of the ministry of Christ’s priest.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav assured that the vocation to follow Christ today is primarily directed to Ukrainian youth who are looking for a personal vocation, especially among the priestly or monastic ministry: “Today, the Ukrainian people need spiritual fathers and mothers who can help them thrive amidst the suffering caused by Russian missiles and bombs and who can liberate them from the grasp of an earthly Pharaoh who intents to keep them in slavery.” It is so important for us to hear this voice today: ‘Come! Follow me!’”.
The Head of the UGCC also congratulated all men on Father’s Day. He called on mature men to conquer the heart of their family, open it to eternity, and be true icons of the Heavenly Father for their children.
At the end of the Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the present bishops of the UGCC for seeing the seminary as a common one and, therefore, feeling responsible for its life and maintenance for sending students here.
Expressing his gratitude to the priests, the Primate mainly referred to two fathers who, until recently, had served as pastors in Donetsk, Sviatoslav Rozlutsky and Dmitry Dekhtyarev, as examples for the seminarians. After spending a month in a Russian filtration camp in Taganrog, Father Dmytro was the last of the Greek Catholic priests to flee Donetsk. “Our people in the occupied territories especially need a spiritual father who is not afraid. Brothers seminarians, if you want a good example of spiritual fathers, here it is,” said the Head of the UGCC, pointing to the priests.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also thanked the patrons for donating to the seminary, particularly the Overks family from Canada. Ms. Marta Khavunka and Mr. Andriy Pelts were honored with patriarchal certificates.
The UGCC Department for Information
