In Ivano-Frankivsk His Beatitude Sviatoslav consecrated a monument to the pious metropolitan Andrey

A monument is constructed to the 150^th anniversary of metropolitan Andrey’s birthday and 130^th anniversary day of eparchy of Stanislav (Ivano-Frankivsk), found in 1885. Exactly Andrey Sheptytsky in age of 34 became the third bishop of this eparchy. His enthronement was held on 24^th of September in 1899, in the Cathedral of a Holy Resurrection in Ivano-Frankivsk.

A consecration of a monument occurred in a frame of the Patriarchal Council. “Our Council activity -, told the faithful His Beatitude Sviatoslav during the monument’s unveiling, - was inspired, and I will not be scared to say, with the presence of metropolitan Andrey. It was he who offered an idea for Ukrainian Catholics to unite all over the world, being one Church with single heart and soul, to impress the world with their faith in God. That is what happening now.”

We arrived here, says the Head of the UGCC, in particular to consecrate the monument to metropolitan Andrey and to look closely at face of this Moses of Ukrainian people. “We see a figure of a pious Metropolitan among children as a father, a teacher of belief, who gives them the most precious what Ukrainian people have – their belief in God”,- added His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

The Head of the Church pointed out that metropolitan Andrey one of the few hierarchs who dared in due time write a letter addressed to the children. “He is writing about a power of a childish innocence and freedom from sin. He says little children always pretend to be strong and big. However Metropolitan explains children their greatness and strength is not necessarily due to some physical qualities but due to the power of innocence of a child’s spirit that has a freedom, freedom from sin. As if he explains children who has the power to overcome evil, who is free from sin”, - mentioned the Head of the Church.

What Metropolitan is telling this boy and girl? “Probably, he is speaking about power and freedom. Bishop Andrey tells about power, coming from Christ’s Gospel. We see, Metropolitan passing a Gospel to boy, and a girl is holding in her hands an icon of Saint George who is killing a serpent of sin. It is the icon of victory, a real freedom. Both are rooted in God, in a Holy Spirit. And it is revealed to us through faith in God. Faith, that a pious Metropolitan wanted to pass and teach his children”, - said His Beatitude.

The Head of the Church thanked everyone who contributed to the building of this monument.

“It looks like a bell. It will ring and wake up not only Subcarpathia but the whole Ukraine and its ringing will hear Canada, the USA, Brazil, Argentina, West Europe, Russia and Kazakhstan, because delegates of these countries are here with us today, hence our whole Church will sound with a voice of awe news.

Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk Volodymyr (Viytyshyn) also thanked to creators of this project and citizens of Ivano-Frankivsk. The bishop mentioned citizens accepted news about building a monument to Metropolitan at Subcarpathia with a sheer joy, giving donations toward it.

The UGCC Department of Information