“Today’s event is a profound Divine sign for all!” — Head of the UGCC in Lviv consecrates a memorial plaque to Patriarch Lubomyr
Today, we are sharing a blessed and profound moment that instills in us confidence and faith that the omnipotent power of God acts in the body of the Ukrainian people and pulsates in the veins of our Church. In one of Lviv’s smallest churches, we have consecrated a memorial plaque in honor of the servant of God Lubomyr, our father and teacher, an esteemed Ukrainian and the head of our Church, whose period of patriarchate is hailed as the “golden age” of the revival of the Church in our native lands. This was stated by the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, during the consecration and unveiling of a memorial plaque to Patriarch Lubomyr in Lviv on March 16.
A memorial plaque in honor of the servant of God Lubomyr was unveiled on the facade of the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, 45 Lysenko Street, where the infant Lubomyr received the first two Holy Mysteries of Christian initiation: Baptism and Confirmation.
Alongside the Head of the Church, the prayerful celebrations were attended by UGCC bishops, clergy, representatives of various levels of government, and numerous Lviv residents.
Before the solemn opening of the plaque, the Head of the UGCC, in concelebration with the bishops and clergy, performed the rite of consecration of the catechetical class at the parish. Following this, the plaque was unveiled and consecrated.
In his address, His Beatitude Sviatoslav highlighted the depth and historical significance of this moment, explaining what it means to be baptized and anointed. He expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the creation of the plaque and urged everyone to beseech Patriarch Lubomyr to pray for Ukraine, our people, and our Church.
“While traveling to you, I asked Lubomyr what message he would like to convey to his Lviv citizens. What words would he have for all of us?” shared the Head of the UGCC.
Infant Lubomyr was not very healthy since his birth, so his parents sought to have him baptized as soon as possible in a church affiliated with the Lviv hospital.
“The very fact that he received the first two Holy Mysteries of Christian initiation—Baptism and Confirmation—as a little child in this church already a testament to us,” the Patriarch said, explaining what it means to be baptized and confirmed by referencing to what happened to the little boy in this holy church.
According to him, the Apostle Paul teaches us that we are born of the new Adam; therefore, in Baptism and Confirmation, we become related to Jesus Christ himself, the new Adam.
“Being a Christian does not mean having a religious belief. It means being born of God. To be a Christian, to be born in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism out of water, to receive the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation, is to be a carrier of heaven,” said the Head of the UGCC.
“If we contemplate the life of His Beatitude Lubomyr,” said the Head of the UGCC, “we will recognize that it was all a heavenly portrayal. All his life, he testified that we are children of God and are free because we received the gift of freedom not from man but from the Lord God Himself. More importantly, we are called to live in freedom to testify that we carry the life-giving Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of freedom.”
“This demonstrates that calling God our father is not merely a beautiful metaphor but a fundamental truth about each of us. When we say that His Beatitude Lubomyr is our father and teacher, it is not just eloquence. It signifies that as we live here on earth and dedicate our lives to freedom, we truly have an opportunity to reunite in eternity because we carry the Spirit over which death has no power,” asserts the Father and Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his gratitude to the authorities at various levels for honoring their great son at the level of the Lviv region. The Patriarch also thanked the artists, benefactors, the rector of the church, and all those involved in the installation of the memorial plaque.
“You have done a remarkable thing. We hope that this memorial plaque will plant a good seed so that someday a monument to His Beatitude Lubomyr will be erected in Lviv, as there is one in Vinnytsia in front of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which he consecrated,” the Head of the UGCC expressed hope.
The Primate reminded that the beatification process of the servant of God Lubomyr has begun, prompted by the spontaneous devotion of the faithful in Kyiv towards his person.
In conclusion, the Head of the Church addressed all those present, urging them to pray to Patriarch Lubomyr for Ukraine, the Church, and the people.
“Together, we earnestly beseech His Beatitude Lubomyr to pray for Ukraine, the glorious princely city of Lviv, and our Church, which stands today as the conscience and spiritual stronghold of the Ukrainian people. We implore you to pray for your people, who may be wounded but remain invincible, exhausted yet resilient. Grant us the strength and perseverance to achieve ultimate victory over the Russian invader, a victory that you fervently sought from God during your time on earth. May the Lord bless our Church, our people, and our beloved Ukraine through the prayers of the servant of God, our father Lubomyr,” added the spiritual leader of Ukrainians.
His Beatitude Lubomyr was baptized and confirmed in the church on March 5, 1933. The fact of his baptism in the church on present-day Lysenko Street is recorded in his memoirs and the metric books of the parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
The UGCC Department for Information
