"Mountains don't divide us," - UGCC Patriarch addressing Transcarpathian Greek Catholics

This is reported by the website Provinces.

"Today we have clergy from different parts of Ukraine and the world," His Beatitude Sviatoslav said in his speech of thanks at the end of the Episcopal Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the All-Ukraine Pilgrimage to Zarvanytsia. "But I am especially pleased," the head of the UGCC stressed, that the archpriest of the Basilian province from Transcarpathia is with us.

The presence of representatives of the Diocese of Mukachevo at the Pilgrimage testifies to the unity of the Greek Catholics of Ukraine, the patriarch of the UGCC stressed.

"Father Francis, we are so grateful that you are among us today and you show that we are one church, that the mountains do not divide, but the Greek Catholics are able to build the unity that our people, our state and God's people expect today. So, Father, thank you very much. And please convey to the people on the other side of the Carpathians, the words of our love, unity and prayer for all the Greek Catholics of the Diocese of Mukachevo," the head of the UGCC emphasized.

According to the website of the province of St. Nicholas, Protohegumen Fr. Francis, who represents the Basilian monasteries of the Transcarpathian province in Ukraine, arrived at the All-Ukraine Pilgrimage to Zaravanytsia immediately after the Feast of the Mukachevo Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God, the 95th anniversary of the enthronement of which was celebrated this year on July 16-17.

The archpriest arrived in Zarvanytsia on July 17. Late in the evening, he took part in a large-scale march of pilgrims with lighted candles from the parish church to the place of the appearance of the Virgin, where a monument in her honor is erected.