“Today, More Than 80 Churches Are Adorned with Her Icons and Murals”: The Head of the UGCC Expresses His Condolences on the Death of Khrystyna Dokhvat
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, expressed his condolences on the passing of Khrystyna Dokhvat, a Ukrainian iconographer from the United States and a recipient of the UGCC’s highest honor—the Order of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. Throughout her life, the artist contributed to the decoration of more than 80 churches in various countries around the world.
“It is with great sadness that I received the news of the passing of Mrs. Khrystyna Dokhvat, who has departed to the Lord to receive her eternal reward for the fruits of her life. Please accept my sincere condolences. I join your family in prayer during this difficult time of mourning the loss of a loved one,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav said.
He also noted that the Lord blessed the deceased with a long life filled with deep love for God, His Holy Church, and others.
“We thank the Almighty for the gift of Mrs. Khrystyna’s life. Reflecting on her life’s journey, we can say with certainty that she was a sincere believer who devotedly loved her Church and lived according to its teachings.”
An icon painted by Khrystyna Dokhvat
The Primate noted that Mrs. Khrystyna’s life began in Ukraine, which she was forced to leave at a young age; yet she always cherished the warmest childhood memories in her heart. “As she herself often shared, she would return in her thoughts to her native land and run through the wheat fields. These vivid memories inspired Mrs. Khrystyna to create true masterpieces of painting.”
Expressing gratitude for the iconographer’s spiritual legacy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav encouraged all to follow her example of serving God through one’s talents.
“Mrs. Khrystyna said: ‘My main task is that my work inspires people to pray.’ As we pray for the repose of the newly departed, we believe that the Lord has received all the good she did during her life and has granted her to behold His glory. We entrust her soul to the hands of God’s boundless mercy and say with faith: ‘Grant her, O Christ, your unspeakable glory, she who has departed to You, where there is the dwelling of those who rejoice and the voice of pure joy.’ May her memory be eternal!” wrote His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information
