“May the flame of the memorial candle in the hearts of our successors never be extinquished!” – His Beatitude Sviatoslav on Holodomor [Great Famine] Memorial Day

Sunday, 24 November 2013, 21:57

Christian memory is not a memory of malice or grief, but rather it turns into a prayer. His Beatitude Sviatoslav drew attention to this in his sermon at the overfilled Basilica of Saint Sophia in Rome on Saturday, November 23, 2013, a day in Ukraine and throughout the world, on which victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33 are remembered. Joined in prayer, noted UGCC Head, was our entire sui juris Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, since concelebrants included bishops from Canada, USA, Brazil, from European countries and various metropolitanates and eparchies of Ukrainian lands as well as numerous priests who serve in Rome and in all of Italy, and those who came on the Pilgrimage to mark the 50th anniversary of the placing of the relics of Saint Joshaphat in St. Peter’s Basilica. There were representatives of the diplomatic corps, including Ukraine’s Ambassador to Italy and the Ambassadors of Poland and Ukraine to the Holy See. Information was provided by Radio Vatican.

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In talking about the funeral hymn Vichnaya Pamiat [Eternal Memory] with which Christians lead the deceased to their eternal rest, UGCC Head noted that this is not a reference to human memory which “is not eternal” but to God’s memory because “God remembers each one of us.”

The services ended with a Panakhyda [Requiem Service] and the lighting of memorial candles.

In conclusion, His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked all who came in such large numbers to Saint Sophia Basilica. UGCC Primate also invited all to attend the Divine Liturgy on Monday, November 25^th, in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Liturgy will be celebrated at the Main Altar and at the end of the communal prayer, Pope Francis will greet the Ukrainian pilgrims.

UGCC Department of Information