The Lord calls each of us to personal endeavor in the fight for victory: His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Stradch
On Monday, June 26, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, led the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy marking the All-Ukrainian pilgrimage to Stradch. Hundreds of pilgrims gathered for the pilgrimage dedicated to Laity Day and the blessed new martyrs of the UGCC, Fr. Mykola Konrad and deacon Volodymyr Pryima. People were especially praying for the Ukrainian army and fallen heroes.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav with relatives of the fallen defenders of Ukraine during the pilgrimage to Stradch
In his sermon, His Beatitude, Sviatoslav primarily thanked the Lord for the opportunity to gather on the “Ukrainian mountain of beatitudes” for collective prayer, listen to God’s word, and receive the Holy Sacraments. He especially thanked the families of the fallen heroes and defenders of Ukraine for their presence.
Addressing the pilgrims, the Primate emphasized that today on the Hill of Stradch we remember the blessed martyrs Fr. Mykola Konrad and his cantor Volodymyr Pryima.
Ten years ago, when the first All-Ukrainian pilgrimage to Stradch took place, the blessed martyr Volodymyr Pryima was proclaimed the patron saint of the laity of the UGCC. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, in the conditions of war, we are coming closer to understanding the meaning of his and Blessed Fr. Mykola Konrad’s heroism.
“A martyr is a victor, one who, by the power of God, overcomes his tormentor and testifies that human power is nothing before the power of God. A martyr is always a witness to the resurrection and the Kingdom of Heaven, which is now among us,” the preacher said.
Commenting on the Gospel passage, His Beatitude Sviatoslav says that there must have been many who came to see the miracles of Jesus Christ as bystanders, not participants.
“God is not looking for spectators, but for companions,” said the Head of the Church, “And then the Lord tells us how a person can participate in this power of God. He speaks strange words that have been the subject of contemplation, reflection, and centuries of Christian thinking.”
Very often today, people expect God to do everything for them; they want to be an unbiased spectator of someone who would make them happy instead.
“Believing in God does not mean having some extraordinary ability to manipulate Him, to force Him to do my will through some long prayer or asceticism,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “No, Christian faith is a task, a vocation, a call to action, a call to partake in the feat that is possible only in God and with Him.”
Today, the word of God about the expression of God’s extraordinary almightiness and the call of man to cooperate is life-giving for the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for their right to exist, defending their freedom, and fighting for their free and independent state. His Beatitude Sviatoslav said today it is essential not to let ourselves be indulged by what divides us and not to become just a spectator looking at the feat of our heroes. It is a high risk, particularly for those living in relatively peaceful areas.
After the Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the clergy and laity who gathered in large numbers for the pilgrimage — a joint prayer of the strength of the Ukrainian people.
During the pilgrimage, the Head of the UGCC had the opportunity to communicate with the families of the fallen Ukrainian heroes from the Yavoriv district. The families of the fallen soldiers presented His Beatitude Sviatoslav with a gift — a chest with shawls, which are symbols of the mothers and wives of soldiers who gave their lives for the Motherland and asked him to continue praying for the soldiers and fallen heroes of Ukraine.
After the Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav consecrated the Spiritual and Psychological Rehabilitation Center named after His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar in Stradch.
The UGCC Department for Information
