"We wish you to be an apostle of unity," - the Head of the UGCC to the new bishop of Mukachevo

Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn of Ivano-Frankivsk of the UGCC was the main ordinator. The concelebrants were Metropolitan Jonah Maxim of Presov and the current administrator of the Mukachevo GCD, Bishop Nil Lushchak.

"Today we have witnessed a wonderful and profound sacrament - the Holy Spirit has anointed and revealed to us a new apostle, whose name is 'Gift of God' ('Theodore')," said the head of the UGCC at the end of the Liturgy, addressing Bishop Teodor Matsapula, "Dear Bishop, on behalf of the entirety of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, we congratulate you on the gift that you are receiving and distributing today."

In his congratulatory speech, His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that the Holy Apostle Paul (when he wanted to outline the core of his mission) considered himself an apostle of reconciliation who implored all those to whom he was sent to be reconciled with God. He was also an apostle of the unity of the Universal Church of Christ, the unity of those he made disciples of Christ.

"We wish you to be an apostle of unity. There are many wounds to heal. The gift you have received is the balm for the deep wounds the enemy is inflicting on our people. Heal the wounds of your diocese. Be a father who embraces everyone and treats everyone the same," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

"We wish you to be a bearer of reconciliation and a witness to the unity of the Church of Christ so that there is one flock and one shepherd. Many blessed years!" the Head of the UGCC wished the newly ordained bishop.

As previously reported, on May 8, Pope Francis nominated Fr. Teodor Matsapula as a diocesan bishop of the Mukachevo Diocese of the UGCC.