On Sunday, January 20, 2019, within the framework of the Week of Prayers for the Unity of Christians, an interdenominational prayer service was held at the UGCC temple of St. Basil the Great. Together prayed: the Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav, bishops and priests of the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Armenian and other Churches, who, together with Christians throughout the world, are solidariating in their desire for the unity of Christians.
It should be noted that the main theme and slogan of this ecumenical Week are the words from the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy: “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow” (16, 18-20). A joint prayer was organized by the UGCC Commission for promoting Christian unity.
The preacher was Bishop Ihor Isichenko, Archbishop of the Kharkiv-Poltava diocese of the UAOC. In the sermon, he reflected on the words: “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow.” According to him, the Ukrainian people are in a prolonged pilgrimage to the promised land.
“Justice and righteousness is what His people should bring to the promised land. This is given to us in the Church of Christ and this is what we can bring to our country,” said Bishop Ihor Isichenko. And then he added: “To create justice is the calling of the Church.”
In his view, sometimes in society there is a temptation instead of the truth to use its simulacrum (from the Latin simulacrum – likeness, a copy). However, it is in the Gospel that we find the truth that is unchangeable. And there is no better evidence of the Church than the relationships within this Church.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and the Head of the UGCC, expressed his gratitude for participating in this event, which unites Christians of Ukraine and gives “the sincerity of staying in a common prayer.”
According to him, unity between Christians is God’s work, and the Holy Spirit is the symbol of unity. “Ukraine needs unity among Christians, because our inner spiritual power depends on how we are one,” said the spiritual leader of the Greek Catholics.
The UGCC Department for Information