Bishop-assistant of the UGCC Donetsk Exarchate Maksym Ryabukha was consecrated on December 22 at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.
Bishops and priests from the East, West, South and north of Ukraine arrived for consecration, reports the UGCC Information Department. It was headed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
Concelebrating were Bishop Stepan Meniok, Exarch of Donetsk, and Bishop Joseph Milyan, assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Kyiv.
First, Vladyka Maksym made a confession of his faith three times. After that, the rite of episcopal consecration took place, at the end of which the newly consecrated bishop was dressed in episcopal vestments. Then His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented him with the rod of bishops as a symbol of his power.
In his sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav named the three main missions of the bishop of Christ: "Invincible light has three properties: to carry, to preach, to release," the preacher noted.
He also pointed out the three tasks to which the bishop is called in the church: to consecrate God's people, to preach the word of Christ's Gospel, and to lead the church community.
Addressing the newly consecrated bishop, the head of the UGCC said: "Dear Vladyka Maksym, today the Holy Spirit anoints you so that you, where there is the greatest pain, the greatest darkness, carry the word of the good news of Christ's Gospel so that you can pour the balm of consecration on the wounds of those people who today suffer from a lack of everything. Give them hope, proclaim to them the word of Christ's Divine Gospel and his hope, and be the bearer of this power... Today, in your Exarchate, two of our courageous priests, Fathers Ivan and Bogdan, have become prisoners of the Russian invaders. Proclaim and bring them the happy news of their liberation, and with them, all the faithful in the temporarily occupied territories who are waiting for the liberation that we hear about today to become their reality. He sends you to proclaim the year of God's Grace. May God grant that it may become a year of God's grace, the victory of Christ's light over darkness, peace over war, joy over sadness, and God's power over the infirmity and baseness of man," the UGCC Patriarch said.
At the end of the liturgy, the newly consecrated bishop was congratulated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, and Exarch of Donetsk Stepan Meniok.
"It happened! Bishop Maksym becomes my assistant. It is not new for the east of Ukraine. There he and his students had great and good work. In addition, I went to camps, and cooked porridge there in cauldrons. He is well known to young people from the East. I hope that his creative work with her will find a new impetus in the east of Ukraine," Bishop Stepan Meniok said.
On behalf of the entire Salesian community, Professor of theology Roberto Cofele congratulated the second Salesian bishop in the history of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He read out a congratulatory letter from the rector of the Pontifical Salesian University.
After that, the newly ordained bishop delivered a word of gratitude.
He thanked the assistant bishop of Donetsk Exarchate and the mother Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and its hierarchy, especially his prelates:
"Thank you to each and every one of you who was able to share today's holiday here, in the Patriarchal Cathedral, who united in prayer with us through live television, who supports me with prayer! I am infinitely grateful to you! May God bless us all generously!" Bishop Maksym Ryabukha added in conclusion.