His Beatitude Sviatoslav during the ordination: "Accept your new archbishop, for through him Christ comes to you to serve you"

Saturday, 23 August 2014, 17:45

To accept with honor and love the new bishop called the faithful of Sambir-Drogobych Diocese the Head of the UGCC. With these words on 22 August, being in Drogobych, appealed His Beatitude Sviatoslav during the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

See also:

Appeal of His Beatitude Sviatoslav to the Sons and Daughters of the Ukrainian People in Ukraine and Abroad, and to all People of Good Will
His Beatitude Sviatoslav congratulated Sisters of the Incarnate Word Order with on holding Cathedral Chapter
A patriarchate for the UGCC is not only a title. Above all, it’s a way of existing, — His Beatitude Sviatoslav

The Father and Head of the UGCC in concelebration with Bishop Igor (Voznyak), Metropolitan of Lviv, Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz), Bishop of Sambir-Drogobych and bishops of the UGCC performed the episcopal ordination of Archpriest Grygoryi Komar.

In his speech His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that Episcopal ordination – is a sacramental event. "Today newly ordained bishop like our Lord was transfigured here before our eyes, revealing a new task that the Lord God showed in him to us. This was the power and action of the Holy Spirit",- said the Preacher.

Talking about the content of the Bishops' ministry, the Hierarch said that the bishop is the successor of the apostles - those who saw the risen Christ, those who saw God the Son as the incarnate servant. "The bishop is the living image of Christ - the highest Pontiff", - added His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

"Today Father in the Son sends with the Holy Spirit’s action to Sambir-Drogobych Diocese the minister who gets the title bishop-assistant" - said the Preacher. The ministry of Bishop Grygoryi will consist primarily in the fact that he daily will awake the entrusted faithful to call for vigil and standing in prayer before God; he will preach the Word of God and as Christ hierarch will bless Christian with the sacraments.

Commenting on the Gospel reading, which tells about the second coming of Christ, the Preacher said: "Each of us has to stand before Christ and give a report for the life lived, for the way he fulfilled the ministry entrusted to him during his earthly journey". According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Christian must always be prepared for this event. The measure of God's judgment on man would be his serving for his neighbor.

The Head of the UGCC is convinced that the faithful must always remember the words of Christ: "Watch therefore, for ye know not what day your Lord will come". (Mt 24, 42). These words remind us that we have to worry about with what we will face God.

Fr. Oleg Chupa,

Press Secretary of Sambir-Drogobych Diocese