Patriarch of UGCC summarized the outcomes of 2017 for state and Church
I would be careful in evaluating the events that took place in our country, and there were a lot of them. Obviously, the pessimists may say that everything was bad, and optimists – that everything was good. The persons related to power will say that the authorities worked brilliantly, and the opposition - that the current government was working absolutely bad. However, the truth is somewhere in the middle. I think that maybe it's too early for us to summarize the results. We may only soon be aware of the meaning and significance of our history and all that happened to us this year.
This was stated by the Patriarch of the UGCC Svyatoslav on the air of the "Open Church" interactive program, as he was speaking about the results of the passing year, and the most important events – the achievements and losses that took place in Ukraine and the Church, reports the Department of Information of the UGCC.
The Head of the Church is convinced that sometimes, in order for a good cause or reform to bring a good fruit, the time is required.
In his opinion, one of the global reforms that Ukrainians need urgently is the fight against corruption. However, the Head of the Church, despite everything, remains a passionate optimizer. For the patriotism of the people of the “gray zone” who survived the occupation, the liberation, and their desire to live in the new Ukrainian state is inspirational.
In the life of the Church, there were also many no less interesting and important events that left a great trace for the faithful.
“Of all the events in the life of the Church, I would mention, first of all, the following three. First of all, this year we witnessed the rise of a very interesting figure. It was the year of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Patriarch Iosyp Slipyy. In general, celebrating the anniversary, we tried to acquaint Ukraine with this person. It was a good opportunity to get to know the invincible prisoner, the witness of Christ, and on the other hand – a great Ukrainian, a great fighter for the dignity of his people. The figure of Iosyp the Blind does not allow us to fold our hands, but to go forward,” the Head of the UGCC noted.
Patriarch Sviatoslav called the 150th anniversary of canonization of the holy martyr Jeosafat Kuntsevych, a martyr for the unity of the Church, the second important event of 2017.
“This year, on June 25, in the Vatican, in the Basilica of St Peter, we received a special privilege from the Pope – to serve on the papal throne, which is located on the grave of St. Peter the Apostle. Such a privilege is rarely given because it is the exclusive right of the Pope to perform the Divine Liturgy on this throne. The Basilica of the Apostle Peter is the largest Christian temple of the world and we have filled it with the faithful to the maximum. This celebration in Rome showed how strong our Church is, how big Ukraine is,” said the prime minister.
And the third event will forever make into in history - May 31, 2017, the day of departure for the eternity of the Primate of our Church, the moral authority of Ukraine – His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar).
“We really have been suffering a great loss caused by pain by this day. His Beatitude Lubomyr is the kobzar of modern Ukrainian thought, song and spirit, which left us as an inheritance the whole civilization of peace and love, all that we need during the war,” the Head of the UGCC stressed.
As the Head of the UGCC noted, the task of preserving the great heritage of His Beatitude Lubomyr – love and peace – was first caught up by Ukrainian students who created the entire movement “Generation of Lubomyr”.
