“We are here together for a sense of unity”: Head of the UGCC with the Permanent Synod consecrated a nativity scene on the central square of Chernivtsi
On December 13, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, and the bishops of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC met with the mayor of Chernivtsi, Roman Klichuk and consecrated the Christmas Nativity Scene in the central square of the city.
Meeting with the Mayor of Chernivtsi
At a meeting with the mayor, the Patriarch thanked the city council for its openness to the Church and expressed the local community’s respect and support for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. “Our Church speaks to the hearts of the people, the peoples of the countries where Ukrainian refugees are, where our eparchies and exarchates are located. We have no right to despair, to be exhausted, because the world supports us, and today, the bishops of the Permanent Synod present here testify to the support of the peoples in the countries where they serve,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
Consecration of the Nativity Scene
Then, the Head of the UGCC and the Permanent Synod bishops consecrated the Christmas nativity scene in the central square of Chernivtsi. Representatives of various religious denominations, public organizations, and citizens attended the opening ceremony. Amateur groups caroled and sang Christmas songs, congratulating people with special Christmas verses.
“The city of Chernivtsi is a great cultural center of our state and Church life. I was honored to consecrate this nativity scene as part of the work of our Church’s Permanent Synod of Bishops. Christmas is about the true heavenly peace that comes to humanity. It is the sacrament of the presence of the Almighty in a small, defenseless child. It is the sacrament of the victory of light over darkness, of good over evil. It is nice that there are bishops from different countries here — Bishop Borys Gudziak from Philadelphia, the head of our Church in the United States, Bishop Volodymyr Yushchak from Wroclaw, Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh, bishop in Germany and five Scandinavian countries. It is a celebration of unity because, on December 25, all Christians in Ukraine will celebrate Christmas together with the whole world. We are here together to feel unity. God is with us. Let us walk together in prayer for our long-suffering people, for our army. Let us prepare to welcome Christ into our hearts and homes,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The Primate also received the Bethlehem Fire from the Chernivtsi Plast members and gave his blessing. Concluding the event, everyone said the Our Father together, prayed, and sang carols.
photo by the press service of the Chernivtsi Eparchy of the UGCC
