August 5, in Zatoka village in Odesa region, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, together with Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, Exarch of Odesa, consecrated a cross, a cornerstone and a place for the construction of a church in honor of the Nativity of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. This first church of the UGCC in Zatoka will be built on the territory of the recreation center "Nadzbruchchya".
Source: Press service of the Odesa
The Head of the Church called this event historic, and the very fact of building a church on the territory of the recreation complex - something unusual. "Usually, when people are looking for a place to rest, they do not even imagine that they can rest near a church," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. “It is impossible to rest without God,” the Primate emphasized.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also recalled that the beginning of the construction of the church is the consecration of the cornerstone, and the cornerstone of all human life and every human deed is not some material thing or physical stone, but our Lord Jesus Christ. "Today we asked the Lord Himself to choose this place as His special abode, so that it could then serve as a hospital for our souls and bodies," the Head of the Church said. His Beatitude Sviatoslav also wished that the Lord God "would allow us to see the crown of the work we are beginning today."
The initiative to build the church, which was blessed and supported by Bishop Mykhailo, belongs to Ivan Pantsio, director of the recreation center "Nadzbruchchya" in Zatoka. On the occasion of the beginning of the construction of the church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented him with a special gift - an icon of the Sts. Joachim and Anna, which is also an icon of the family movements of the UGCC.
“… we see that here, at your resort, there are so many families ... Therefore, let this place be the heart of the promotion of family values, because it is, in fact, God's plan of happiness for man," the Head of the Church wished .
In his words of gratitude, Mr. Ivan Pantsio stressed the importance of the event, both for him personally and for the entire resort town. In conclusion, Exarch Mykhailo Bubniy of Odesa thanked the Father and the Head of the UGCC for visiting the southern Ukrainian region and starting a great work – “the construction of this church, where, in fact, the name of God will be glorified, where people who will rest here will take part in the Holy Liturgy,” said the speaker.