The Head of the UGCC (Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church) led the Vespers with a Lamentation in the Vatican on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Josaphat. On November 11, on the eve of the liturgical commemoration of the sacred martyr Josaphat Kuntsevych, in the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, presided over the Great Vespers with a Lamentation. This liturgy at the grave of the Ukrainian saint marked the culmination of the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Josaphat, who was killed on November 12, 1623, in Vitebsk.
This was reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.
The head of the UGCC, along with bishops of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, was joined in the liturgy by the Archbishop of Vilnius and President of the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe, Gintaras Grušas, the ambassadors of Ukraine and Lithuania to the Holy See, and the numerous Ukrainian community of Rome — both clergy and laity.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that through the intercession of this saint, Ukraine should seek hope for victory in the struggle against the aggressor.
During the evening, a welcoming word was delivered by the Protosyncellus of the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat, Father Robert Lysyj. "By proclaiming Josaphat Kuntsevych a saint, the Church sets him as an example to us," Father Robert was quoted as saying on the Basilian Fathers' website. "He is a martyr, a true witness of his faith in the Lord God, to whom he dedicated his life and remained faithful to the end, ready to give his life for the faith and seeking what the Lord has prepared for us—eternal life. Saint Josaphat constantly made efforts to preserve his unity with God. We rightly call him the Apostle of Unity. He is the apostle of unity, starting from the moment when he began to seek unity with God in a life marked by deep prayer and renunciation, seeking not his own, but what is God's."
"The example of Saint Josaphat, especially in our time when we can see much evil and violence around us when our people suffer from war, is relevant. In order for us, looking at the example of our saint, to care for one another, for salvation and conversion. So that our prayer for our enemies would be a desire for the conversion of the enemy who does not cease to do evil, to do injustice, and to bring death. This is possible when we, also by the example of our Christian life, will give testimony of our inclusive love, loving not only those who love us but also those who hate us, praying for our enemies, wishing for their conversion so that they may attain salvation," noted the Basilian Protosyncellus. On November 12, at 12:00 (Rome time) in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis will lead the traditional Angelus prayer. At 13:30, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, together with Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, will preside over the Hierarchical Liturgy in the Basilica of St. Peter.