25 Thousand People Attend Consecration of Main UGCC Cathedral in Kolomyia
On August 19, 2012, in the town of Kolomyia of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, the main shrine of the Kolomyia-Chernivtsi Eparchy of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), the Cathedral of Transfiguration of Christ was consecrated.
The consecration and celebratory liturgy was led by Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) in concelebration with bishops of the UGCC.
The celebratory events were attended by Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, Archbishop Edward Thomas Gullickson, bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, a large number of clergymen of the Kolomyia and Chernivtsi Eparchy and priests from other eparchies and Bishop Ivan (Boichuk) of Kolomyia and Kosiv of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate.
The liturgy began with the Rite of Consecration of the church and altar where the relics of the holy great martyr Mykolai Charnetskyi, who was born in the eparchy, were embedded.
In his sermon on the occasion of the consecration, Patriarch Sviatoslav spoke about the profound meaning of the event of transfiguration of Christ. In the end of the liturgy, the Apostolic Nuncio read out a greeting address from Pope Benedict XVI to the faithful of the eparchy on the occasion of the consecration of the main shrine.
Bishop Mykola (Simkailo), Eparch of Kolomyia and Chernivtsi, thanked all the people of good will who have donated and prayed for the development of the cathedral complex.
Bishop Ivan (Boichuk) of the UOC-KP read out a greeting from Patriarch Filaret.
In the end, the head of the UGCC greeted the residents and guests of Kolomyia on the occasion of the Day of the Town, the Information Department of UGCC reported.
