On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Volhynian Tragedy, the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, and the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops of Ukraine have released a joint statement.
The main message of the statement is that "We pray and ask that all those who still carry the wounds of those events in their hearts open themselves to the liberating and healing power of forgiveness, breaking the chains of hatred and the desire for revenge. In a time when our country is at war, the people of Ukraine are experiencing great and truly fraternal assistance and support from the Polish people. This assistance has brought us closer together. One could even say that it has united us in a certain sense." The statement was shared by the Information Department of the UGCC.
STATEMENT
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)
We, the Catholic bishops of Ukraine, reflecting on the tragic events of eighty years ago that occurred in Volhynia, want to be merciful, just as our Heavenly Father is merciful. He gave us His Son not to judge us but to free us from the prison of our sins and to heal our wounded hearts.
We also recall the momentous actions that were a great step towards reconciliation between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples when in June 2005, a joint letter of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Conference of Bishops of Poland was published, in which both sides expressed the words: "We forgive and ask for forgiveness!" Later, in 2013, a joint declaration of forgiveness and reconciliation was signed between the Catholic Churches of Poland and Ukraine. These historical steps inspire us today to seek not only historical truth but also further repentance, forgiveness, mercy, fraternity, compassion, assistance, and love for one another.
We are aware of the depth of the wounds inflicted by the cruel acts of violence in the past, and at the same time, we see that they still need further healing so that they no longer destroy not only us but also future generations. For when our wounds continue to bleed, we have no strength to love and often continue to harm one another.
All active participants in that brutal and painful event have already stood before the just judgment of God and received what they deserved. We will learn about their fate when we ourselves appear before the Judge of all times.
God desires us to love one another as Christ loved us. In His mercy, He gives us all the means for salvation and healing. Therefore, for us, this is the time to receive His mercy and to be merciful.
Today, we pray and ask that all those who still carry the wounds of those events in their hearts open themselves to the liberating and healing power of forgiveness, breaking the chains of hatred and the desire for revenge, and experience the freedom of Christ's Easter joy. On the 80th anniversary of the Volhynian Tragedy, we pray and ask that all those who still carry these wounds in their hearts find healing. Teach us to forgive and seek forgiveness, as Christ has taught us.
Lord, may You be our justice, which the human heart cannot achieve.
Lord, may You be our peace!
And may the Spirit of peace, the Spirit of the Risen Christ, reign in our hearts! Amen.
† Nil Lushchak,
Administrator of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy
† Vitaliy Skomarovskyy,
Chairman of the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops of Ukraine
† Sviatoslav Shevchuk,
Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church