Greek Catholics and Orthodox to Build Church Together to Celebrate Baptism of Rus

The construction of a new church of Saint Panteleimon began on July 29 in Kolomyia on the premises of the oncology hospital. Bishop of the Kolomyia-Chernivtsi Eparchy of the UGCC Mykola Simkaylo and Bishop of the Kolomyia-Kosovo Eparchy of the UOC-Kyivan Patriarchate Ivan Boychuk blessed the building of the new church. The building of the church is dedicated to the 1022^nd anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus.  “Since the time of the foundation of our eparchy the relationship with the bishops of the UGCC in Kolomyja has been very friendly. We have a joint purpose – to build a unique church in Ukraine. By holding joint events we unite our faithful in one Christian family. Bishop Mykola and I call our priests to hold joint divine services and events that we can lead and conduct together in order to strengthen the unity between people,” stated Bishop Boychuk. “Walking the road of Christ’s teaching and united rite, we see the fundamental bases of the unity between churches of Volodymyr’s baptism. To witness this unity and Christian love, actions that testify our intentions to fulfil the divine appeal to consent are necessary. The new church, where the priests of two eparchies will celebrate in turn, will become a salutary example. With united prayers for patients, for the church will be next to the oncology hospital, and through other services we will ask for benediction for our nation, for the unity of our church in Ukraine,” stressed Bishop Simkaylo.

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