The Head of the UGCC stated to the “Correspondent” magazine that he believes in the creation of the one Ukrainian Church

The Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav in an interview to the magazine “Correspondent” stated that he believes in the possibility of creation of the one Ukrainian Church.   According to the publication, His Beatitude asserts the possibility of communion of the UGCC with all the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches. Then the question was asked by the journalists Anna Morozova and Iryna Solomko if His Beatitude Sviatoslav is adherent to the idea of the Church’s unity.   “He (His Beatitude Lubomyr – ed.) stated more then once that the one Ukrainian Church is a real possibility. First of all, because it has already existed in such state, but due to different factors it was divided into different confessions. Because there is a common ground, there are also chances that this unity will be regained. But we must step on this path of unity” – stated the UGCC Primate.   “Back in 2005 His Beatitude Lubomyr said that we had to move from confessional confrontation to the primacy in love. Very often today many of the Churches stemmed from one Kyivan Church, present themselves as the sole heir of this tradition. They consider the other Churches as less worthy or even negate their right for existence. It is impossible to return to the original unity with this kind of thinking” – added the Head of the UGCC.   He also answered the question if he communicates with the Heads of the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine, particularly with the Head of the UOC MP Metropolitan Volodymyr. “Bishop Ilariy, the representative of Metropolitan Volodymyr, was at my enthronement. Not only did he greet me, but he also invited me for a meeting with the Metropolitan. It was supposed to take place these days, but due to the health problems of the Metropolitan, the meeting was postponed. Nonetheless we are preparing for the meeting and I am looking forward to it” – said the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics.   Besides, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that the UGCC actively cooperates with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC KP): “We are actively cooperating with them within the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations. We have agreed upon creation of the Council of Churches stemmed from St. Volodymyr’s Baptism which would help us to accomplish many good things together.”   The complete version of the interview with the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics can be read in the issue 21 of the “Correspondent” magazine from 3 June 2011.  

UGCC Information Department

based upon the materials from Correspondent.net