In the past year, we once again realized how important it is in our lives to meet another person. We were forced to reduce social contacts, but instead we were building our human relationships… The Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church thanked for 2020 and greeted Ukrainians on the New Year 2021.
"2020 is coming to an end," said the Primate of the UGCC in a special New Year's video greeting, "a year full of special experiences, difficulties and challenges, but also special blessings, discoveries and joy." This year we experienced and learned a lot for the first time. We have realized that human life is priceless, and human health cannot be valued by any money, economic benefits or political expediency."
According to him, we struggled with a disease not yet known to the world, but at the same time we saw the strength and victory of human solidarity in our lives.
"We realized," he said, "that indifference kills, and love of neighbor sustains, gives new hope, saves lives. This year we recognized the family as the home Church, where the Lord Creator and Savior Himself is present in our house. Our families became our home Church, where we prayed together, listened to God's Word, even consecrated our Easter baskets; they became a space where our lives and health could be saved, a sanctuary for human souls and bodies ...”
The Head of the Church also noted that in 2020 we also especially appreciated the art of medicine, the heroism of our doctors and medical workers who save patients at the cost of their own lives. We want to thank the Lord God for the past year, we want to thank for everything we have understood and learned.
"But we look with joy and light at the new year 2021, which we are entering. We feel that in the new year we will still be together, in one boat we will cross this sea of life. Our Lord and Savior, who is coming to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, will be in that boat with us," His Beatitude Sviatoslav assured.
The Primate wished everyone God's blessing, optimism, strength and joy, so that we could really move forward together.
"Happy New Year to you, dear brothers and sisters! Happy New Year to you, Ukraine!” His Beatitude Sviatoslav greeted the Ukrainians.