Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv–Halych Archeparchy of the UGCC discusses church activities and approves memos for Christian voters and politicians

On February 6-7, 2019, at the Patriarchal House in Lviv, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presided over the 81st Session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The work of the Synod was attended by all 21 bishops of the Major Archeparchy.

The main topic of this session was “Identity of the UGCC in the light of the religious situation in Ukraine”.

The basic document was the Message of the Head of the UGCC on the occasion of the centenary of the restoration of the unity of the Ukrainian people and state “Our Holy Sofia”.

As a result of the main theme review, it was decided to hold a multi-dimensional discussion with the clergy, monasticism, seminarians and lay people about the identity of the UGCC as a local and simultaneously global Eastern Catholic Church, successor to and heir of Kyivan Christianity.

In the context of processing the Synodal documents, the Program of Pastoral Vocation to Consecrated Life, the Pastoral Plan for the pastoral care of sobriety in the Major Archeparchy, and the Instruction on the Presence of the Church bodies and the clergy of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archeparchy of the UGCC on the internet were reviewed and directed for further elaboration.

In addition, the text of the pre-electoral Synodal appeal and the memo for Christian voters regarding the awareness of their responsibility for their own voice and the memo for Christian politicians regarding the obligation to adhere to Christian values ​​in their political activities was approved.

In addition to these issues, the Synod's fathers heard reports on the activities of the Commissars of the Major Archeparchy. Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, Chair of the Department of Social Service of the UGCC, delivered a report on the state of implementation of the Strategy of Social Service of the UGCC. Fr Bohdan Prakh reported on the mission and activities of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav reported to the members of the Synod on the International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in Budapest in 2020.

At this session, the Synod continued its consideration of the issue of chaplaincy in Plast and other scout youth organizations, on which Fr Rostyslav Pendiuk, chairman of the Commission on Youth Affairs of the UGCC, and Fr. Oleksiy Medyk, Chaplain of Plast-NSOU, delivered their reports.

The Fathers of the Synod drew attention to the request from the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to encourage the faithful to vaccinate against measles in view of the epidemic spread of the disease.

The Synod reviewed and blessed implementation of the plan of measures for the elaboration of the Charter for Charismatic Movements and the Exorcists Service Book.

The eighty-second session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Major Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was held in May 2019. This was reported by the Department of Information of the UGCC.