The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav, held meetings with the ambassadors of Croatia and Slovakia on June 19. The Head of the UGCC met first with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia in Ukraine, Anica Djamić, and the second meeting was held with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Ukraine Marek Safin. Both meetings were held at the request of the ambassadors, the Information Department of the UGCC reports.
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav, held meetings with the ambassadors of Croatia and Slovakia on June 19. The Head of the UGCC met first with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia in Ukraine, Anica Djamić, and the second meeting was held with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Ukraine Marek Safin. Both meetings were held at the request of the ambassadors, the Information Department of the UGCC reports.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav discussed with the Ambassador of Croatia the experience of this country in the field of military chaplaincy and the experience of healing the wounds of war. "Today Ukraine lives in a state of war and we are a wounded nation," said the head of the Church.
During the meeting, the parties noted a lot of similarities in the history of the Ukrainian and Croatian peoples. In particular, the path to Croatia's independence is in many ways similar to the path that Ukraine has chosen.
The Primate spoke about the contacts of the UGCC with Greek Catholic Diocese of Križevci in Croatia, as well as about contacts with the Roman-Catholic Church of Croatia. The parties also noted good interpersonal contacts. In particular, this is manifested when Croats play football, Ukraine roots for them, and when Ukraine plays, they support us. In addition, Ms. Anica noted solidarity between the two nations during the war.
During his meeting, the Slovak Ambassador took interest in the issues of interreligious contacts in Ukraine. He also said that he is a Greek Catholic and he is very pleased to know there is such a large Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, which is much larger than the one in Slovakia.
The diplomat also noted the role of the UGCC in strengthening state institutions, in raising awareness among the citizens of Ukraine of the value of the Ukrainian state. His Beatitude Sviatoslav added: "It is important that Ukrainians understand that if they do not engage in building their state, they will live in foreign countries. And the UGCC is trying to foster responsible attitude to state institutions, their strengthening."
As a way for them to remember the meeting, the head of the UGCC offered his guests a publication of the UGCC, as well as a book about the persecution of Greek-Catholics in the Communist times.