UGCC Primate meets with Donetsk youth

During a pastoral visit to the Donetsk-Kharkiv Exarchate on May 14^th, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), UGCC Head, met with Donetsk youth.  Some 200 young Donetsk residents greeted the Patriarch. The meeting took place in the chapel of the Youth Center of the UGCC parish Descent of the Holy Spirit. The Patriarch began with a greeting and then invited each person to pose a question.  It is worth noting that most of the questions concerned spiritual matters.  In particular, young people wanted to hear more about Christianity, prayer -- especially about the Patriarch’s personal prayer.    They were interested in learning ways to recognize a vocation to monastic life as well as other callings, and so on. “I am most touched by you—the people of Donbas,” stated the Patriarch, in answer to a question about his personal impressions of the visit.   In emphasizing the sincerity and openness of the local residents, Patriarch Sviatoslav also reminisced about his years of army service in Luhansk. At the end of the visit, bidding his farewell, the UGCC Primate imparted a special blessing on the youth who were singing  Mnohaya Lita in the church yard. On 15 May2012, the Primate of UGCC will pay a pastoral visit to Luhansk.  

UGCC Department of Information