In Kyiv, a Christmas Prosfora was held with Patriarch 2014

During the Christmas caroling, there were donations collected for the interior decoration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.

In his welcoming remarks, UGCC Father and Head, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) reminded all that the most important event of the last year in the life of the Church was the blessing of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.  

 “If I were to enumerate all the blessings which the Church and the nation received in the last year, you would have to stand for a very long time. However, there is one incomprehensible gift which we received in 2013 – that is, the blessing of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.  In the last few years, during this shared prosfora, the longing that such an event would take place was often expressed – that the cathedral be built and blessed.  And for the first time, at today’s prosfora, we can jointly express our gratitude that this has been achieved,” noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav.. 

He admitted that he asks himself, how did it happen that “he had the privilege to bless the Cathedral which is a sign of the unity of our Church ?”  However, he still has not found an answer.  The Prelate thanked anyone who during the past years in any way contributed to the building of the main cathedral of UGCC.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav reminded the guests that to share prosfora  [unleavened bread] means:  “On every Christmas Eve, when we share the only bread, named prosfora, in the family, we thank Almighty God that he granted us the possibility to greet this Christmas.  We remember all those who have entered eternity in the last year.  We also thank God for all the blessings which the year has brought us.”

The Church Head also mentioned one more gift that our Church and our people received.  “Today we received a great gift – the Apostolic nuncio informed me that Holy Father Francis is well informed about all the events in Ukraine, and, as he writes, expresses his unity and solidarity in prayer to  the beloved Ukrainian people.  This allows us to look with great attention and hope into the future and to enter the next year with great упованням  expectations, emphasized the speaker.  After the welcome, the prosfora was shared.

Attending the caroling with the Church head were clergy, cultural and political activists, diplomats, especially U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt and Polish Ambassador Henryk Litvin.

UGCC Department of Information