Yesterday, on October 14, the first official press conference of the cardinal-nominee Bishop Mykola Bychko, the ruling bishop of the Melbourne Eparchy of the UGCC, was held at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Melbourne.
According to the press service of the Melbourne Eparchy, the event, to which representatives of the Catholic and secular media were invited, was moderated by Fr. Simon Ckuj, Protosyncellus of the Melbourne Eparchy of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
He greeted all those present and briefly spoke about Bishop Mykola's journey to Australia and his ministry in this country.
Bishop Mykola, for his part, noted that although he does not yet know the details of his new appointment, he humbly and gratefully accepts this privilege to become the voice of the Ukrainian people and faithful in Australia.
“This appointment does not change who I am,” emphasized the hierarch, ”I remain first and foremost the Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, and the Bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in unity with His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav, our Father and Head, and my brother bishops in the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. I also continue to work with my brother bishops in Australia, both of the Latin and Eastern traditions. We are blessed to live in this country, free from war and conflict, which has become a place of peace and hope for many refugees and migrants.”
Bishop Mykola brought to the press conference a special relic - a Ukrainian flag given to him by a volunteer from Ukraine.
“Our military took this flag with them into battle, and it was with them at all times. It was in the battles for Karlivka and Maryinka in 2014, and in 2015 for Avdiivka, Pisky, Krasnohorivka and Donetsk. Later, these brave soldiers were captured by Russian troops and taken prisoner, and this flag was with them. The soldiers were beaten and tortured, sometimes with the flag wrapped tightly around their heads,” said the bishop. ”That is why it still bears the traces of shoes and blood. In a rather miraculous way, this flag came to a volunteer who, in turn, presented this precious memento to me as a relic of the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers who defended their homeland from Russian aggression.”
Answering journalists' questions about the situation in Ukraine, the cardinal-nominee quoted the words of Pope Francis, which he said the day before during a traditional prayer in St. Peter's Square in Rome: “I appeal to you to prevent Ukrainians from dying from the cold, to stop air strikes on civilians, who always suffer the most. Stop killing innocents!”
He added: “I think this appeal of Pope Francis is very important for Ukraine. I support it because it will be a difficult winter for all Ukrainians - especially given the ongoing war.”
In conclusion, Bishop Mykola expressed his gratitude for the support he received after the announcement of his appointment. He called on the audience to pray for him and above all, to remember to pray for those suffering the most.