His Beatitude Sviatoslav in the Easter Epistle: “Today Ukrainian people can be compared to the the apostles of Jesus Christ”

“Our people and today’s society can be compared to the apostles of Jesus Christ, who once again experience the loss of hope, disappointment and powerlessness, looking at their  humiliated and crucified Teacher.  We expected the rebirth of a free state; instead we so often experience the bitterness of disenchantment and the shattering of our own illusions”. This writes His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) in his Easter Epistle to religious and faithful of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.

“How very much do we all need this change of our society through the power of the Resurrection! And today, we proclaim “Christ is risen!” and in it is the source of our hope and inexhaustible strength,” emphasizes the Epistle.

UGCC Primate is convinced that we are called to build our present and our future on the foundation of holy faith and the strength of evangelical love, and to consolidate in our personal, family and social life, God’s eternal truths that can bring every person as well as whole nations, authentic freedom and lasting progress.  “The Risen Christ assures us in his constant presence and in his blessings of this great deed.  The visible mark of His presence among us is our Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.  This year, during the All-Church pilgrimage to take place on August 17-18, the cathedral will be blessed,” informed the Church Primate.

On this occasion he invites all in Ukraine and on its settlements, that “on the banks of the Dnipro River, that they together renew their faith in God an his teachings, which are the light and the hope for our whole nation.”  “This is a great holy day, and at the same time, yet another chance to thank  God together that also in our nation  a paschal miracle did occur:  the ruined and condemned to death Church resurrected, our state is being reborn, and the whole Ukrainian people are renewed by the Holy Spirit,”  writes the  leader of Greek-Catholics.

Dearly Beloved in Christ!  With these thoughts I embrace you all with the Paschal Joy of today’s bright holy day, the feast of feasts -- the Resurrection of Christ!  The words in the epistle are especially directed at those who are dealing with life’s trials -- to the indigent, the imprisoned, the ill, the captives, the saddened ones, the disappointed or disenchanted.  May the Paschal Joy touch your heart and strengthen it, granting it new hope and spiritual strength.  “Christ is risen!  Indeed, He is risen!” states His Beautitude Sviatoslav in the Easter Epistle,

UGCC Department of Information