The Head of the UGCC in Olsztyn: The road to creation of this Eparchy was filled with the blood of martyrs and the tears of exiles (updated)

His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the UGCC, was the principal consecrator; co-consecrators - Bishop Yevhen Popovych, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Przemyśl-Warsaw, and Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, Auxiliary Bishop of the Sambir-Drohobych Diocese.

During his sermon to the faithful, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that the road to the creation of the Olsztyn-Gdańsk Eparchy was filled with the blood of martyrs, tears of immigrants and exiles, resistance to communist repression and hard work to organize our spiritual and cultural life here in this area.

On this day, the Church also solemnly celebrates the memory of the Pratulin Martyrs.

"On this day of honoring the Martyrs of Pratulin - in the light of their example and sacrifice - we are experiencing a special historic moment here in Olsztyn. We are celebrating the solemn proclamation of our new Olsztyn-Gdańsk Eparchy, we are participants in the episcopal ordination of His Eminence Bishop Arkadiy and in the introduction of the first ruling bishop in the history of Olsztyn-Gdańsk bishops,” the bishop said.

The Primate noted that today the UGCC expresses gratitude to the Holy Father Francis for blessing the decision of the Synod of Bishops of our Church and proclaiming the creation of this new eparchy. The UGCC also thanks the Apostolic Nuncio, the entire Catholic Episcopate of Poland, for their support and work for the birth of this ecclesiastical structure.

“The formation of a new eparchy is a recognition of the maturity of our church body, its organization and unity," said the Head of the Church.

In a separate word, His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed the new Bishop Arkadiy: “Today you have received a special gift of the Holy Spirit - the gift of the fullness of the priesthood of Christ, and the task of teaching the words of the Divine Gospel."

There are so many expectations and tasks, challenges and difficulties ahead, stressed the spiritual leader, which are greater than a person's ability to respond to them. Is it possible to do all this?

“The answer and assurance for you may be the example of the blessed Martyrs of Pratulin. The place of their martyrdom is today the territory of your eparchy, and they become members of your community in an invisible, spiritual way as an inexhaustible treasure of the grace of the Holy Spirit. They become patrons and protectors for you and your eparchy before God in heaven," His Beatitude Sviatoslav wished.