UGCC Patriarch pays pastoral visit to Brazil

UGCC head Svyatoslav Shevchuk is making a pastoral visit to Brazil. The chief purpose of the trip is to take part in the enthronement of bishops Myron Mazur and Volodymyr Kovbytch, which will take place on July 13 in Prudentopolis and on July 15 in Coritiba. 

According to UGCC Information Department, apart from these two main worship services, Patriarch’s Svyatoslav visit program includes meetings with the clergymen, monastic communities, laity organizations of the UGCC in Brazil. Also he will meet with representatives of the state authorities and heads of local self-government. 

It is known, Pope Francis raised the former UGCC diocese of St John the Baptiser with a center in Coritiba to the dignity of archdiocese and metropolitans’ chair. The first archbishop-metropolitan is Bishop Myron Mazur, who formerly was assistant bishop of the UGCC Diocese of Cortiba. 

Patriarch Svyatoslav called the creation of the new metropolis to be a new step to validation and recognition of the Patriarchal dignity of the UGCC. 

Creation of new church structures attests that the church is growing and developing. Creation of the UGCC metropolis in Brazil, the fourth during this period testifies to the fact that our Church has made and important step in its development as a local church in this land”, said His Beatitude Svyatoslav  in his video blog for Zhyve TV.