Hierarchs of the UGCC give backing to the Ukrainian Churches and religious organizations idea to proclaim 2018 the year of God’s word in Ukraine

On October 13-14, 2018, the Seventy-Eighth Session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishoproc of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church took place at the retreat center of the Lviv Archeparchy in Bryukhovychi, chaired by the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Svyatoslav. The synodal meetings were attended by all serving bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the UGCC.

Before the start of the synodal session, a seminar was held on the upbringing of candidates for priesthood in the seminaries of the UGCC, which was prepared and counducted by the rectors of the Seminary of the Supreme Archdiocese.

The theme of this Synod session was “The upbringing of candidates for priesthood in the seminaries of the UGCC. Human and spiritual formation in seminary.” Father Igor Boyko, rector of the Lviv Theological Seminary of the Holy Spirit of the UGCC, was the main speaker on the issue. After listening to the reports and substantive discussions on this issue, the Synod's hierarchs adopted a series of synodal decisions designed to ensure the proper level of human and spiritual education in the seminaries of Ukraine for the adequate formation of candidates for the priesthood to serve the Church.

In the context of elaboration of the synodal documents, “Rules and Principles for the Protection of Children and Young People in the UGCC”, the program of the seminary course "Spiritual guidance" were considered and approved, and the text of the Epistle of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the UGCC on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Ukrainian statehood was also approved.

The hierarchs of the Synod considered the initiative of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to announce 2018 the Year of the Word of God in Ukraine. It was decided to support this proposal of the AUCCRO, to set up the Organizing Committee to commemorate the Year of God's Word in Ukraine and to approve the Plan of Celebration of the Year of God's Word in Ukraine.

Reviewing the activities of the Commissars of the Supreme Archdiocese, the head of the unit, Mr. Petro Darmorys, reported on the activities of the Center for Combating Corruption as part of the Commission of the UGCC "Justice and Peace" (ad iterim).

The Synod carefully listened and approved the reports on the activities of the Coordinating Council on Pastoral Assistance in Crises, which was drawn up by its chairman - Bishop Bohdan (Manishin) and a report on the activities of the Patriarchal Pilgrimage Center of the UGCC, composed by his leader, Father Lubomyr Yavorsky.

The Synod members also heard information about the mission and activities of the Ukrainian Catholic University, which was presented by Father Bogdan Prah, Rector of the UCU, and Igor Skchilas, vice-rector for the academic work of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

The Synod was offered a presentation of the results of architectural and archaeological research of the Catholic Cathedral shrine of the Mother of God of the XIII century in the city of Khelm, as part of the Ukrainian-Polish scientific project "Search, Identification and Scientific Study of the Shrine of the Mother of God, built by King Danylo Romanovich in the city of Chelm”. It was conducted by Professor Mykola Bevz and Mr. Yuriy Lukomsky, Candidate of Architectural Sciences.

To duly mark the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine, the Synod decided to dedicate this year's All-Ukrainian pilgrimage to Zarvanytsia for this celebration, and on the day of St. Volodymyr they scheduled to serve the Divine Liturgy with the Order of the restoration of the Christian vows and organize on July 29, 2018, the pilgrimage of the UGCC seminarists to Kyiv.

The seventy-ninth session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church was held in May 2018. It is reported by the Department of Information of the UGCC.