About the 66th session of the Synod of Bishops of UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric

Participating in the Synod were all the bishops of the UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric and

His Excellency Bishop Milan(Shashik), Eparch of the Mukachiv Greek-Catholic Eparchy, and His Excellency Bishop Nil (Lushchak), Auxilliary Bishop of  Muchakiv Greek-Catholic  Eparchy .

Before the beginning of the working synodal meetings, before lunch on the first day, a seminar on the problem of alcoholism was held; it was moderated by Rev. Dr. Andriy Lohin, and led by: Shuhaley Yuriy Semenovych, candidate in medicine, physician-narcoticologist of higher category; Orest Suvalo, physician-psychiatrist, court-psychiatric expert, vice-director of the Ukrainian Catholic University Institute of Psychiatric Health;  Ms. Halyna Netliuk, practical psychologist, vice-director of the Ukrainian Catholic University Institute of Psychiatric Health; Rev. Vasyl Skypchuk and Rev. Taras Sydor from the society "For A Sober Life", and eparchial managers of the clergy for sobriety. 

The main topic of this session of the Synod of Bishops of the Major Archbishopric was the issue of pastoral care for sobriety: challenges and tasks emerging as result of events in 2014.  In the context  of examining the main topic, about the activity of UGCC Commission on Matters of Pastoral Guardianship of Health, spoke its director, Rev. Andriy Lohin, while the activities of the International Charitable Fund, Caritas Ukraine, was presented by its president Andriy Vaskovych.  On the basis of the information, offered at the seminar and the examination of this issue throughout the Synod meetings, several resolutions were ratified that will enhance the decline of the level of danger of spreading the sickness of alcoholism among the Ukrainian people.

Among other topics, there was a discussion regarding preparation for the visit of Ad Limina.  Also there was a presentation by Rev. Oleh Lazurkevych on the activities of the Center of Pastoral Care for People with Hearing Problems, Nadiya [Hope].  The Synod heard the report of the Coordinating Council on Issues of Pastoral Care in Critical Situations by its Head, Bishop Bohdan (Manyshyn).  In analyzing this report, the synodal fathers once more emphasized the importance of prayer support for our management, army, volunteers, and all who perished or suffered resulting from the armed conflicts. In this context, the bishops reminded all of the appeal of February 2, 2014, to conduct in churches, monasteries, and seminaries, an uniterrupted 24-hour prayer vigil, according to the schedule delineated by the parish priests and supervisors, and appealed to all faithful and people of good to daily unite at 9 pm in a joint prayer for Ukraine.  This  appeal about fasting and prayer for peace and Ukraine's better future was also renewed in the name of the UGCC Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of June 7, Year of the Lord 2014.

In editing the synodal documents, the Synod examined, in a repetative first reading, the Pastoral Instruction "A Good Pastor", presented by Rev. Volodymyr Zhdan and Rev. Oleh Barbuliak. Also, in its first reading there was an examination of a revised and updated version of "Concept of the Ecumenical

Position of UGCC," presented by Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), Head of the Theological Department of UGCC Patriarchal Curia.

It was decided that the 67th Session of the Synod of Bishops of Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church will take place in April of the Year of the Lord 2015.

Secretariat, Synod of Bishops UGCC Kyiv-Halych Major Archbishopric