On September 8, in the Lviv Cathedral of the Latin Rite, a Divine Service was celebrated to mark the transfer of the seat of the Roman Catholic metropolitans from Halych to Lviv. The Pope’s Envoy, Cardinal Jozef Tomko passed a greeting from Pope Benedict XVI.
“The old archdiocese of the western rite based in Lviv marks this year an important jubilee, the 600th anniversary of its foundation. Therefore, I have come to you as special envoy of the Most Holy Father Benedict XVI with a great joy. Let me pass You his greeting and Apostolic blessing which I am going to administer in the end of the Eucharist service,” with these words Cardinal Tomko began his sermon on occasion of the 600th anniversary of the transfer of the seat of the Roman Catholic metropolitans from Halych to Lviv.
Before the service, a procession in honor of the patron saint of the Lviv Archdiocese, Jacob Strepa, who headed it in 1391-1409 was held beginning from the Sanctuary of St. Antony of Padua in Lviv.
Cardinal Tomko passed the pope’s and his own greetings to the Catholic hierarchs, clergymen, monastics, lay people and representatives of other denominations and the authorities present at the service and noted that the transfer of the seat of the archdiocese took place on the feast of the Birth of the Holy Virgin Mary which was celebrated on that day according to the new calendar.
The cardinal noted that the feast refers us to the events which took place two thousand years ago, for “we have gathered today here, near the altar of Her Son because She brought Him into the world.” He added that the place of Holy Mary in the history of salvation is important and therefore, Her feast suits well the jubilee celebration.
“A mother’s birthday is always a joyful event which brings together the children and grandchildren. And the Holy Virgin Mary is our spiritual mother. She is the Mother of God and the Mother of Our Church. She is also the Mother of your archdiocese community as your today’s celebration shows,” said the cardinal. He stressed that it should urge one to lead an even deeper spiritual life and give a testimony of the faith in the public life, to let Her into our hearts, homes and families to allow “the pure and true love reign” in them and to make them a place where “life is born and grows, where children are brought up to have courage in the faith, to pray, to be industrious and decent.”
In the end, Cardinal Jozef Tomko said: “Most Holy Father Benedict XVI also joined this prayer and wishes.” The cardinal noted that the celebratory services are aimed to thank, beg and ask for forgiveness: “First of all, we want to glorify God for all good things which during the six hundred years were granted to this archdiocese which we entrust to a special protection of the Heavenly Mother of God for the future.”