“The difference in the liturgy is our wealth, our treasure," Archbishop Tsyril (Basil)

A Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated on January 23 in the the Basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Pompeii as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The liturgy was initiated by Archbishop Carlo Liberati, Prelature of Pompeii. The Liturgy was led by Archbishop Tsyril (Basil), secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, who concelebrated with Archbishop Carlo Liberati, chaplain for the Ukrainian in the eparchy of Pompeii, Fr. Yevchuk Andrew, the rector of the sanctuary Msgr. Salvatore Acampora, Fr. Peter Kozak, Fr. Michael Vasil, Fr. Marco Durlak, Fr. Martin Michal, Deacon George Smakous (selezians) and Italian priests.

The Hierarchical Liturgy in the Eastern rite was accompanied by singing of Ukrainian students of the Pontifical College of St. Mary of Rome.

In addition to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community, which for over ten years gathers for Sunday services, about two thousand faithful of the Latin rite came to the joint prayer.

In his sermon Bishop Tsyril (Vasil) said that this Eastern rite liturgy dedicated to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can be considered a "meeting in faith." "A person can create divisions, but Christ unites,”  the preacher said. "Today we turn to the Mother of God in a special way. We ask her, as the mother of the church that is honored in the West and the East, for the unity of all Christians."

Bishop Charles thanked for the wonderful opportunity to pray the in the Byzantine rite, in particular referring to the Ukrainian citizens, many of whom live with Italian families, who provide a good example of prayer and witness of faith.

From the press service of the community of Pompeii, UGCC

 

Background information

Ukrainian prayer services in the city Pompeii take place every Monday (beginning at 10:00 a.m.) and every Saturday (beginning at 4:00 p.m.) presso Santuario della Beata Vergine del Rosario

Capella S. Giuseppe Mascatti
Piazza Bartolo Logo,1
80045 POMPEI (NA)
Rev. do Andriy Yevchuk (Cappellano per gli Ucraini a Pompei)

Ogni Domenica ore 10.00 ed ogni sabato ore 16.00 Divina Liturgia in rito bizantino-ucraino