The Head of the UGCC in Buenos Aires (Argentina): "Cross is a sign, symbol and banner of victory of good over evil"

Monday, 20 March 2017, 20:50

"It is very moving for me to return to you, to have a possibility to visit this holy land, where the Lord our God once confirmed me in my calling to priesthood. Next year the Cathedral of the Veil of Our Lady (Pokrovy) is going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of consecration, performed by the Patriarch Josyph Slipyj, and already this year our community in Argentina is celebrating its 120th anniversary. Our first migrants on this land began by building churches. Today's Liturgy here is a sign that the power of the Heavenly Kingdom, given to us through Christ's Cross, is revealing before our eyes". With these words the Head and Father of the Church His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed the faithful during his homily at the Archierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Veil of Our Lady (Pokrovy) in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, March 19.

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"This Sunday is called the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross and marks half of Great Lent. On our way from slavery to freedom God is with us", went on the preacher. "We see all the images from the Old Testament present, fulfilled, fully revealed, when Jesus was crucified on the Cross. His Cross is a symbol of victory, the spring from which the living water is flowing until now."

According to the words of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, today the Ukrainian people are experiencing similar things to what the Israeli went through, who were on the way from slavery to freedom: "Now we are probably going through one of the most difficult periods in the modern history of Ukraine. Ukraine has been bleeding…"

"Let us have a look at Christ's Crucifix on this Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross and kiss His Cross. The sign of kissing is the sign of acceptance. God says to us: "I am with you. I have led you this way of freedom. I have instilled in your hearts the desire of freedom and justice. I have inspired you with the Spirit of dignity, which led you to Maidan. And I am traveling together with you on this road. I am the source of your strength and the ability to overcome the most grievous adversity," went on the Head of the Church.

In the Primate's opinion, the Cross of our Lord is a banner of victory. It's that instrument which Jesus gives into the hands of His people: "The Lord gives us the sign of His power and invincibility... So when you are looking for answers to your questions, or are feeling thirst and hunger in your personal and spiritual searchings, go to the Church."

At the end of his homily, His Beatitude Sviatoslav added: "Your Mother-Church in Ukraine will never abandon you and never forget about you. I wish everyone of you to feel in your personal history of life the power of God, given to us through the Holy and Life-giving Cross. May the Mother of God, under whose protection lives and prays this eparchy, teaches us and shows to us her Son, crucified on the Cross as the sign, symbol and banner of victory of good over evil, truth over lies, power of God over visible weakness."

The UGCC Department of Information