UGCC Head prayed in one of the youngest parishes in Kyiv Archeparchy

On the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, April 14, 2013, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), UGCC Head, prayed in Severynivtsi in Kyiv region, in one of the youngest parishes of UGCC Kyiv Archeparchy. By this act UGCC Head wanted to assure the faithful of this parish that the Church hierarchy remembers them and supports them in all sort of ways.

“Sometimes we do not fully realize that a person is a spiritual being,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in his sermon at the Divine Liturgy. “Everything that happens with us in the bodily, material world – even our psychological experiences are expressions of the spiritual side of a person.”

As the preacher noted, Jesus Christ – full of the Holy Spirit, came in order to bring us into God’s “company.” UGCC Head reminded all that this year is the Year of Faith, and Catholics of the world thank the Lord for the gift of faith that “over so much time on our land bears fruit.” “Faith is a person’s openness to God and one’s ability to accept the Holy Spirit. Only then, when a person believes, can God fill the person with His life and spirit, make the person His friend,” stated His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

“We ask God to keep increasing our faith. If the Spirit of God is among us and in us, then we will be able to conquer all sins and weaknesses,” he concluded.

After the Liturgy, UGCC Head talked with the parishioners, saw the catechism class and visited the church building.

UGCC Department of Information