In Kyiv Seminary were blessed new buildings

In his homily, the Primate said that the celebration of the Three Holy Hierarchs, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, is special in Kyiv Theological Seminary. For the three evangelical bodies are patrons of this institution of future pastors.

"Celebrating the memory of them, - noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav - it is important to realize that we confess that we are the heirs of their education, their faith, their understanding of the God. We have to be the heirs and successors of their holy life. It is the unity and this our inheritance is the wealth that we celebrate today".

According to Him, the legacy of the Holy Fathers of the Church is the foundation, the basis of seminary education and training. "If we want to understand deeply the word of God, if we want properly and respectfully accomplish sacraments that were acomplished by these saints, we need to discover their heritage, their faith and their holy life," – considers the Head of the Church.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav paid the seminarians’ attention to three saints as the great shepherds of their Church. "They were the gladness of the sad, hope for the hopeless, teachers for the unwise, the way of those who are lost, for those, who are in the dark" - He said.

The preacher recalled the words of St. John Chrysostom, whose word is more than ever is relevant for us. "Speaking about poslannytstvo посланництво of the apostles, especially about pastoral duty, John is thinking over the words of Christ who said: behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be gentle as doves and wise as serpents. Reflecting on these words, John Chrysostom says, as long as you are lambs, even when surrounded by wolves, you will be invincible. If at one moment you become wolves, you will be defeated. Why? Because our shepherd, Christ, is not the shepherd of wolves, but the shepherd of sheep. As you become wolves, he goes away from you and you will be left yourselves face to face with your enemies. But if you are lambs, His victory will appear in your meekness and humility"- said the Head of the Church.

"These words are particularly affecting – noted His Beatitude - because we now find ourselves surrounded by wolves. Perhaps that day the world thinks about what to do with the disaster of Ukraine and how to return peace to our much-suffering land..."

The bishop thanked God for the development of the seminary and blessed the new premises of the Kyiv Three Saints Seminary, in particular a new dormitory.

Coserveded with the Head of the Church Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson!!!, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine and Bishop Bogdan (Dziurakh), Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.

Photo: br. Нaroslav Pavlнuk

 UGCC Department of Information