UGCC Head urged all faithful to pray for those who do us wrong

Sunday, 16 March 2014, 10:27

This morning His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), UGCC Father and Head, led the Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Rome. He urged Christians during the Great Lent to increased prayer “for the enemy and for all who today are harming the Ukrainian people and are spreading falsehoods about us.”

See also:

The Head of the UGCC in Boryspil: “Mission of Christians in the world is to be a voice of consciousness of their nations”
UGCC Head to authority: Do not deprive people of their last livelihoods
Pope to the Head of the UGCC: “Ukraine remains in my heart”

Joining UGCC Primate in praying were: Bishop Dionisii (Liakhovych), Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in Italy and Spain, members of the Rectorate of the Ukrainian Papal Institute of the Intercession of the Blessed Mother, representatives of monastic orders and communities from Rome. In commenting on an excerpt from the Sunday Gospel about the enfeebled one, His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that “sin makes a person “enfeebled” and weak, yet Jesus Christ is that Word of Forgiveness, which the Father sends to each one of us. Only in Him through the Holy Sacrament of Penance do we get our sins absolved.”

The preacher noted that today “it is not per chance that God talks to us about forgiveness.” UGCC Head appealed to all to increase their prayers for the enemy: “Let us pray for those who persecute us, since to be a Christian means to be the bearer of forgiveness.”

We remind all that during these days His Beatitude Sviatoslav is in Rome on an official visit to the Vatican in order to meet with Pope Francis. A private audience will take place on March 17^th.

Press Service, St. Sophia Association