Bishop Yosyf (Milian): “No material treasures can compare with the value of an immortal human soul”

No material treasures can compare with the value of an immortal human soul.  Such a conviction was voiced by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyivan Archeparchy, Bishop Yosef (Milian) on Holy Cross Sunday at the end of the Lent retreat in the parish of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Vinnytsia. In his sermon Bishop Yosef reminded us that it is necessary to ask ourselves a rhetorical question: what do we consider a treasure in this world? “Surely each one of us, depending on our fascination with this world, will have various reactions on what is most valuable.  For some it will be children, for some it will be grandchildren, for others – the next retirement check, for others, the upward climb on the governmental ladder, for some an independent and sovereign Ukraine, for others it is love towards a father and a mother,”  said the Bishop. All of these could be discussed eternally, and they will never all be equal on a common score.  However, if our biggest treasure is God, His commandments, His Holy Will, then everything else the Lord somehow freely sorts out and attends to,” said the Bishop. He underlined that obviously we all need to take care of “our daily bread,” yet God should hold the first place as the most valuable treasure, since, after all, we also became His treasures. Finally, the hierarch invited all to join in suffering  together with Christ, by coming to the services on Holy Thursday, the Jerusalem Matins, and Good Friday Vespers, so that in experiencing Golgotha, we can feel and taste the real joy of Christ’s Resurrection. After the Liturgy, the parish administrator, Rev. Hryhoriy Rohatsky ZVS, thanked Bishop Yosef for his fatherly care and Rev. Fernando Bravo for leading the retreat.  As a conclusion, the parish youth presented a play dealing with Christ’s sufferings. Participating in the Divine Liturgy were:  Rev. Fernando Bravo, Father Superior of the Brotherhood of the Incarnate Word; Rev. Mykola Durkalets, the Vinnytsia deacon; Rev. Hryhoriy Rohatsky ZVS, the parish administrator; Rev. Andriy Chornenko, Vice Rector of KTD;  Rev. Teodosiy Savchuk ZVS, parish assistant.

UGCC Information Department