“If we are faithful to ourselves, faithful to God, on that foundation loyalty to an independent nation-state will be built”: Bishop Joseph (Milyan)

Today, on the 20^th anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, in the church of the Holy Mother of God on the territory of the future Patriarchal Center of the UGCC in Kyiv, a solemn Liturgy for the Ukrainian people in the united, independent Ukraine will be held. The Liturgy, on the benediction of His Beatitude Lubomyr and as a response to the request of the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions, was celebrated by Bishop Joseph (Milyan), auxiliary bishop of Kyivan Archepachy of the UGCC. The bishop devoted the sermon to the theme of loyalty.  “Obviously, loyalty to high ideals begins with loyalty to oneself, matrimonial loyalty, loyalty to ones parents and native home. Obviously, the basis of this loyalty has to be loyalty to God. Very often in such large ideals we have only declarations. We declared at one time that Ukraine will not get on its feet until we all kneel before God… But were we really ready to do it, was it only a declaration, which did not have anything in common with that which was said?” said Bishop Joseph. “Today we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of State Sovereignty. What was it? It’s been 20 years and we can not realize the results of this declaration. Actually, if to talk about freedom and loyalty, they began with each of us. If we are faithful to ourselves, faithful to God, on that foundation loyalty to an independent nation-state will be built,” underlined Auxiliary Bishop of Kyivan Archeparchy of the UGCC.

Information Department of the UGCC