The meeting between His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), and the leadership of the World Congress of Ukrainians took place on November 27 at his residence in Kyiv.
Source: UGCC Information Department
During the meeting, the president of the World Congress of Ukrainians, Pavlo Grod, introduced His Beatitude Sviatoslav to new members of the WCUC management, including Andriy Shevchenko, the newly appointed head of the WCUC Mission in Ukraine. He emphasized that the primary objectives of the congress during wartime are informational work with local governments, presenting them with the truth about events in Ukraine. Another task is to help integrate newcomers into existing communities or establish new ones to preserve their national and cultural identity.
Pavlo Grod mentioned that the WCUC's activities focus on three main directions—victory, reconstruction, and then construction and development of a strong Ukrainian world. The Congress president highlighted that they recently provided 500 drones to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is another contribution made by the WCUC to the Ukrainian army.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav greeted the president and the WCUC leadership, thanking them for the meeting. He noted that the UGCC's priority is Ukraine's victory. Before the onset of open Russian aggression in Ukraine, a law on military chaplaincy was adopted. Currently, over 70 priests are serving in the Armed Forces and other structures as chaplains.
The head of the UGCC emphasized that another priority task of the Church during the war is to support all victims, especially the families of those killed or missing. He also mentioned a certified program for the clergy called "Healing the Wounds of War," launched in September. The main goal of the training is to teach priests to provide professional assistance and care to all those affected by the war.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that this year's Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, held in Rome, focused on pastoral care for those affected by the war. The Synod approved several resolutions aimed at helping the Church serve our faithful in different parts of the world more effectively.
The parties agreed to continue their close cooperation between the World Congress of Ukrainians and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for the victory of Ukraine. Subsequently, the participants exchanged symbolic gifts.
Pavlo Grod presented the Head of UGCC with a candlestick made from brass shells of 152mm caliber with a glass inlay from a broken window in Lymanske, Donetsk Oblast. Inside the glass is a fragment of a Russian S-300 missile that destroyed the building.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented a fragment of a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle shot down near the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv, as well as a medal issued during the celebration of the 1125th anniversary of ancient Halych.