On this day, even the stones of destroyed Ukrainian cities shout “Hosanna!” — The Head of the UGCC on Palm Sunday
In his sermon on Palm Sunday, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), emphasized that even in times of war, when young people are defending the life and resurrection of Ukraine, the stones of destroyed cities and villages are shouting “Hosanna!” to Christ.
At the beginning of the sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav reflected on today’s Gospel passage about the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The Patriarch noted that Christ was greeted by young people with palm branches.
“It is interesting that those children, the youth of Jerusalem, are vocalizing this event with very special words that we often hear and sing today. ‘Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,’” said the Hierarch. He emphasized that these are the words of Psalm 117. “Hosanna” means “Save us, Lord”.
This word “hosanna” is directed to Christ, who is life and resurrection. Many people came to meet Him because they had seen Lazarus resurrected. “Christ is the one who gives life to the lifeless. He is life and resurrection,” said the Primate.
Christ is the life that comes to conquer death. Facing this life, a person’s response can only be of two kinds: either “Hosanna” or “Crucify him.” Therefore, each of us today must give an answer, choosing the bright side of history, whether it is our personal history or the history of our nation.
“Today we feel that the Lord God enters the heart of Ukraine and gives us strength, hope for victory — victory over the death brought by the enemy, victory over the war that he seeks to expand worldwide,” said the Primate.
He then announced that deacon ordinations would take place today. “Three young men will become participants in the service of the Ukrainian people and its bright Church. This is the service that Christ Himself desires to fulfill today. The one who takes over the ministry, the mission of Christ Himself, is the bearer of this all-conquering, life-giving power of the Resurrected,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
During the Liturgy, he ordained three graduates of the Kyiv Three Saints Theological Seminary to the diaconate: Oleh Karpenko, Vasyl Pidlubnyi and Ihor Ambroz.
After the service, the traditional blessing of willow branches took place.
The UGCC Department for Information
