The Head of the UGCC presided over the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Odesa Exarchate: We see how the resurrected body of the Savior began to grow in these lands
On May 7, on Bright Tuesday, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the reorganization of the Odesa Exarchate and the ordination of Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, led the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Yuzhne.
Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, bishops of the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UGCC and numerous clergy concelebrated with the Head of the Church.
During the sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav explained the significance of meeting the resurrected Christ and responding with the affirmation, ‘He is truly risen.’ He emphasized that the Eucharist, the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of the risen Savior, is the place where one can recognize and see Christ journeying with his disciples.
In addition, the Primate noted that many guests came to Yuzhne that day to encounter the risen Christ. Today, the long-suffering Odesa feels support from different parts of Ukraine. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, it is natural that we focus on our pains and sufferings, as Christ also takes on his own sufferings in his Resurrection. However, even in the midst of our disappointments, “Christ breathes His Word upon us and warms our hearts.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalled two events that marked a new page in the history of the Church in southern Ukraine 10 years ago: the reorganization of the Odesa-Crimean Exarchate into the Odesa and Crimean Exarchate, and the episcopal ordination of Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, the first exarch of the Odesa Exarchate.
The Father and Head of the UGCC emphasized that despite the difficult circumstances in which the new church structure began its activity, the Odesa Exarchate has accomplished a lot for the development and strengthening of faith in the South of Ukraine over the past 10 years.
“When the Church as a community exists, then the Church as a temple will rise. Thus, we witness that these churches began to grow because the resurrected body of the Savior began to grow in these lands,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. He added, “Today, looking at this invisible dimension of the life of the risen Christ, which was manifested through our Odesa Exarchate, we affirm: Christ is truly risen!”
Moreover, the archbishop referred to the tragic situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine, some of which belong to the Odesa Exarchate. He urged the faithful to pray sincerely for the people who live there and for the speedy liberation of these lands.
“Today, we should especially pray for the occupied territories of Ukraine. The Odesa Exarchate is now divided by the front line,” said the Head of the UGCC. “We pray for those people on the other side of the front line who are now experiencing the pain of losing their Church.”
The Head of the UGCC also expressed his gratitude to all those who serve the Church and preach the word of God. He emphasized that being a Greek Catholic in the Odesa Exarchate is not only about faith, but also a challenge, a mission and a witness to faith in God.
At the end of the Liturgy, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas, delivered a welcoming speech.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav congratulated Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, Exarch of Odesa, on the first decade of his episcopal ministry and thanked him for saying yes to the call to serve in such a difficult time 10 years ago. “I promise that we will continue to journey with you; you will not be alone. Our large Church in Ukraine and in the world is with you,” said the Primate. He added, “I wish you always to build the Eucharistic community. For where there is a Church that celebrates the Eucharist, all the churches will rise, and all the structures will be constructed!”
To mark the anniversary of the Exarchate of Odesa, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, ordained two priests of the Exarchate as mitred archpriests — Fr. Ivan Tretiak, rector of the parish of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Kropyvnytskyi, Syncellus for Clergy Affairs, and Fr. Vasyl Kolodchyn, rector of the parish of St. Peter and Paul in Yuzhne, Syncellus for Social Service, Director of Caritas-Odesa UGCC. He also awarded patriarchal letters of commendation to those who contributed to its development, in particular: Fr. Mykola Slobodian, Fr. Petro Makovetsky, Fr. Oleksandr Bilsky, Fr. Ihor Makar, Fr. Taras Pavlius, Fr. Volodymyr Tsyapka, Fr. Sviatoslav Kyryk, Fr. Ignatiy Moskalyuk, and Brother Mykola Mudryk.
Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy thanked His Beatitude Sviatoslav on behalf of the entire Odesa Exarchate for his visit to celebrate the occasion: “Today, like one of the disciples from Emmaus, you have come to the southern region of our country, Ukraine. You resemble that disciple from Emmaus as the Head of the Church, because wherever you visit, you come home, and at the same time you walk with Christ and carry His word, especially in these difficult times when Ukraine is bleeding.”
The UGCC Department for Information
