Patriarchal Council of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Closed

During the session of the Patriarchal Council of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church held in the Brazilian town of Prudentopolis, the head of UGCC, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), made a report on September 3. The hierarch stressed the role and place of intellectual education in the life of consecrated persons, the Information Department of the UGCC reported.

The participants of the council passed a resolution in the form of an address to the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC and a letter to consecrated persons of the UGCC. In his closing word, Patriarch Sviatoslav thanked those who prepared the council and participated in it, and said that 32 bishops, 24 eparchial priests, 28 lay people, 40 monastics and 50 visitors attended the council, which, according to the head of the UGCC, is an indication of the unity of the church which is rich in various gifts.

Patriarch Sviatoslav highly appreciated the work of consecrated persons during the council of the monastics held in the previous years. This work resulted in a concluding document of the first session of the Council of the Monastics of the UGCC entitled “Transformation in the Lord” – “Identity of the monastics in the vocation and service to UGCC” of 2008. In conclusion, the head of the UGCC declared that document official and obligatory for all members of the UGCC.

On September 4, 2011, the closing ceremony of the 5th session of the Patriarchal Council of UGCC was held. The head of UGCC led a liturgy attended by 32 bishops of UGCC, numerous priests, monastics and a large number of the faithful from Prudentopolis and its suburbs.

In the end of the liturgy, a decree of the head of the UGCC was read out and the Synod of Bishops was officially closed. Patriarch Sviatoslav presented letters of gratitude to all those who contributed the most to the preparation of the Patriarchal Council.