The Head of the UGCC awarded the Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky Medal to Ivan Vasiunyk

His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalled that this year our Church remembers Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky in prayers, as we celebrate the 155th anniversary of his birth. It was he who, says the Head of the UGCC, began to develop Zarvanytsia and organize pilgrimages here.

"Our Church has established the Medal of Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky as the highest award. Every year we give it to people who continue his work with the greatness of their thought and spirit. Today we confer this medal on a worthy man - Mr. Ivan Vasiunyk," the Father and Head of the UGCC emphasized.

According to the Patriarchal Letter, Mr. Vasiunyk was recognized for his “active public position in combating evil and selfless work in nurturing and protecting Christian values, for many years of sacrificial service as the Executive Chairman of the Committee which popularizes the personality of the new martyr of the XX century - Pastor of Maidanek Blessed Martyr Omelyan Kovch; for a firm position in defending the historical truth about our tragic past, including the Stalinist Holodomor of 1932-33, for the example of long-term dedicated service to the Church and the nation, which is based on Christian values and the social teachings of the righteous Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky.”

"May the merciful Lord, according to the prayers of the righteous Andrei Sheptytsky, reward you a hundredfold for all your efforts and give you strength for further service," the Head of the Church wished in the text of the document.

"Thank you for the high assessment of my humble efforts. Allow me today to dedicate this highest award of the Church to our soldiers, who are defending Ukraine from the aggressor. Today I realize that the spiritual precepts of the righteous Metropolitan Andrew should be fulfilled even more strongly,” said Mr. Ivan Vasyunyk in his speech of gratitude during the award ceremony.

Reference

The Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which took place in Lviv-Briukhovychi on September 2-11, 2018, honoring the memory of the righteous Metropolitan Andrew, decided to establish the Medal of Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky as the highest award of the Father and Head of the UGCC.

The Medal can be awarded to representatives of Churches and religious communities, as well as lay people, including public figures, whose work embodies the principles by which the righteous Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky lived and served the Church and the nation

The UGCC Department for Information