"For the UGCC, the Patriarchate is more than institutionality; it represents maturity. We cannot renounce the concept of the Patriarchate, as doing so would mean ceasing to exist as a Church. This matter is not merely about jurisdiction; it reflects our Church's growth in communion with the Universal Church."
On August 18, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, addressed participants at a round table discussion titled “One People of God...” The event marked the anniversaries of the Kyiv Metropolitanate and the return of the seat of the Primates of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as reported by the UGCC Department for Information.
The discussion took place in Kyiv at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, coinciding with the celebration of its 12th anniversary of consecration. This round table was organized by the Ukrainian Catholic University in collaboration with the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the UGCC, and was moderated by Oleh Turiy, the director of the Institute of Church History and vice-rector of the UCU.
Presenters included Fr. Myron Bendyk, rector of the Drohobych Theological Seminary, and Myroslav Marynovych, president of the Institute of Religion and Society and advisor to the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University.
Additional comments were provided by Viktor Yelensky, Fr. Petro Balog, Fr. Heorhiy Kovalenko, Volodymyr Bureha, Pastor Vasyl Ostryi, and Fr. Ihor Shaban. The Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, concluded the discussion.
“Today, we have this conference as the culmination of three days celebrating 30 years of the revival of the Kyiv Metropolitanate and 20 years of our Church's return to Kyiv,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav. "It would be a betrayal of the truth if these events were seen merely as an internal matter for the Church. After all, the statements of His Beatitude Lubomyr were universally relevant and addressed to everyone."
According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, an important task of the Church is to convey Patriarch Lubomyr's message: “One people of God in the land of the Kyiv mountains,” which remains prophetic today.
“We wanted this scientific conference to emphasize his universal message. It is about communion that extends beyond institutional ties; it encompasses relationships created and sustained by the Holy Spirit. ‘Ubi Spiritus, ibi Ecclesia’ — where the Spirit is, there is the Church, as the Church Fathers taught.”
The Head of the UGCC highlighted that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church regards the ancient Church of Constantinople as its mother Church. "We carry the memory of undivided Christianity. Moscow does not share this memory, but Kyiv does. Therefore, the Kyiv Church has always sought communion. We are a Local Church in communion with the Pope, yet we do not belong to the Western Patriarchate. We are building our own identity."
His Beatitude Sviatoslav pointed out that, especially in the context of war, the issue of unity is particularly important: “A necessary condition for fostering relationships among Christians is to reject ecclesiastical exclusivism. We must strive for deeper communion, building connections between those Churches that are heirs to the baptism of St. Volodymyr.”
He also emphasized the significance of the Patriarchal Cathedral: “Today, we celebrate the 12th anniversary of its consecration. It is a special symbol and blessing. The Cathedral is a gift not only for our Church but for Kyiv, all Ukrainian Christianity, and Ukraine as a whole.”
In closing, His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed gratitude to all participants of the round table, summarizing: “Today, many ideas were shared that, God willing, will bear fruit. The message of His Beatitude Lubomyr is a universal message to Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and the Church. May he help us implement it from heaven.”