On his first day as a Cardinal-designate, Bishop Mykola Bychok arrived in Sydney to participate in a ceremony of Conferral of the Degree of Doctor of Divinity “honoris causa” upon His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney by the University of Notre Dame Australia.
This was reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.
During the Conferral ceremony, Bishop Mykola was greeted by the Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame Australia, The Hon. Christopher Ellison, and His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, The Most Rev. Charles Balvo, noting the great honour of his appointment to the College of Cardinals.
Following the ceremony, His Grace had an opportunity to meet with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and convey his appreciation and thanks for the steadfast support that the Ecumenical Throne has offered Ukraine for a just peace. His All-Holiness responded with a loud “Slava Ukraini!” ("Glory to Ukraine!")
Accompanied by the Protosynkellos of the Melbourne Eparchy, Mitered Archpriest Simon Ckuj, His Grace Bishop Mykola had an opportunity to visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Mother Church of Australia, to pray. Since the beginning of the russian war against Ukraine, St. Mary’s Cathedral has had a place for the faithful to pray for Ukraine and a just peace. The focal point of prayer is a historic icon of Christ Pantocrator that was written by Fr. Juvinali Mokrycki Studite Monk and presented by His Beatitude Patriarch Josyp Cardinal Slipy to the Archbishop of Sydney Thomas Cardinal Gilroy during his first visit to Sydney in 1968.
Bishop Mykola then proceeded to the Crypt of St. Mary’s Cathedral, where six Cardinals rest, awaiting the resurrection of the dead. His Grace and Fr Simon paused at the tomb of Cardinal George Pell to pray the Holy Rosary.