20th Anniversary of the UAOC Brotherhood of St. Apostle Andrew Marked
On July 12, in St. Dmytrii’s Church of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Kharkiv Regional Brotherhood of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle and the 17th anniversary of Bishop Ihor Isichenko’s consecration, Archbishop of Kharkiv and Poltava of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), were marked with a liturgy led by Archbishop Ihor.
As RISU learned from the Consistory of the Kharkiv and Poltava Eparchy of the UAOC, Bishop Marian Buczek of the Roman Catholic Church and Carmelite sisters of the monasteries in Pokotylivka prayed at the liturgy.
Bishop Marian Buczek greeted Archbishop Ihor on his 17th anniversary of consecration. New buildings of the Kharkiv regional Brotherhood of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, which have been repaired at the expense of the brotherhood and with the participation of its members, were consecrated.
The head of the brotherhood Vadym Pryhodchenko thanked for the spiritual care of the brotherhood and told about the plans to extend its church and social work. In the chapel of the Church of St. Dmytrii was an exhibition on the 20-year history of the Kharkiv brotherhood. The first excursion was conducted by the former head of the brotherhood, Nina Nemyrovska.
According to the website of the association Svoboda, the pastoral letter of Archbishop Ihor for the occasion of the brotherhood’s anniversary reads: “The existing experience of the presence of the Brotherhood in the social life of Slobozhanshchyna (eastern Ukrainian region) needs to be multiplied. ‘Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other’ (Mark 9:50), so reports the gospel writer the words of the Savior. To be the salt of the earth it is necessary to constantly give a testimony of the Christian virtues, not to dissolve in the environment and to keep your identity. In other words, to have your own taste, not to lose bitterness. In the language of politicians, it means to be in opposition. In opposition to the forces of injustice, violence, deceit.”
Ihor Shvaika stressed the importance of cooperation between the spiritual and political opposition: “Contrary to the puppet ecclesiasticism, imposed on the residents of Slobozhanshchyna by former [Communist] party organizers, the Brotherhood of Andrew the First-Called Apostle became the first Orthodox organization in Kharkiv, which was formed from the grassroots. It is notable that the brotherhood represented exactly the Ukrainian Church! It provoked a strong reaction of the authorities of that time.
“Today the same people occupy seats of power. As well as yesterday they are interested in having political and religious structures completely under their control. The Ukrainian Churches and right forces must prevent the realization of these plans."
