On July 17-18 2020, the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the All-Ukrainian Pilgrimage to Zarvanytsia, the Marian Spiritual Center 'Zarvanytsia', hosted the eighty-fifth session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church chaired by the Head of the UGCC.
This was reported by the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the UGCC.
This session was scheduled for May, but could not take place until a month and a half later when a reduction in quarantine restrictions was introduced. However, the Synod session was held in compliance with all relevant regulations of the quarantine.
On the first day of the Synod, the bishops prayed for the repose of the newly deceased Bishop Milan Shashik, eparch of Mukachevo.
The central theme of this session of the Synod of Bishops of the Supreme Archdiocese was “Permanent clergy formation”. In the context of its consideration, the bishops heard a report themed “Analysis of programs for permanent formation of priests in our dioceses and exarchates in Ukraine”, which was presented by Fr Dr Igor Boyko. He also reported on the need to create a priestly fellowship in the UGCC. Therefore, in the context of considering the main topic, Fr Dr Oleg Kaskiv presented the document “Golden Age of Priesthood. Instrumentum Laboris to Support a Priest-Emeritus of UGCC in Ukraine”. Online presentation of the document “Directions for the permanent formation and support of the UGCC clergy” was carried out by Bishop Bogdan Daniel (USA), Fr Andriy Onuferko (Canada) and Fr Yuri Kolasa (Austria). They also reported on the sub-theme of the main topic of the Synod - support and formation of the priests' family.
The Synod worked on several drafts of Church documents during this session. In particular, the Instruction on the Presence of Church Structures and Clergy of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the UGCC on the Internet was considered and adopted for a three-year probationary period, being presented by the Bishop Theodore Martyniuk. The Instruction on the procedure of planning, painting, furnishing and preservation of churches and other religious buildings and liturgical objects was adopted in the first reading as presented by Bishop Yaroslav Pryriz.
A significant part of the Synod's time was devoted to the consideration of topical issues of pastoral service in Ukraine, primarily caused by coronavirus infection. In this context, all the ruling bishops reported on the pastoral situation in their dioceses and exarchates, and the Patriarchal economist of the UGCC, Fr Lubomyr Yavorsky reported in detail on the activities of the UGCC Anti-Crisis Center.
Also, members of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the UGCC reflected on the issue of Synodal activities in the context of the pandemic. They considered several issues presented by His Beatitude Sviatoslav and Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
The Eighty-Sixth Session of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Halych Supreme Archdiocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was scheduled for November of the year of God 2020.