Bishops of Three Denominations Jointly Call Odesa to Repentance

ODESA — The bishops of the Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran Churches of Odesa called the residents of this southern Ukrainian city to devote the last week of Lent to inner concentration, meditation on their lives, repentance, and confession. In their joint address the bishops call the residents to refrain during the last week of the Lent from noisy parties and entertainment “not to upset the prayer spirit in the city churches,” reports the press service of the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).

“The address of the heads of three churches representing three different traditions shows the joint aspiration to renew Christian unity. It is a very important testimony to the modern world. If united, Christians will achieve more than if they act alone,” stressed Doctor of Theology Fr. Volodymyr Zhdan.

The joint address was read on Sunday in the churches of the Roman Catholic Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Lutheran churches.