Perhaps this is the time when all people in the United States expect from our Church a special testimony of the Christian faith. This is the time when everyone is waiting for renewal and revival. But at the same time today we hear a special word of comfort – the word of the Comforter.
This was stated by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, on June 4, 2019, during the enthronement of bishop Borys Gudziak as Philadelphia Metropolitan at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia.
The Primate noted that now we have become a visible witness to the manifestation of God’s special love for our Church and people. “The Lord takes care of us. He gives you the shepherd, the father, the evangelist of Christ’s gospel and the grace of the Holy Spirit – your new Archbishop and Metropolitan Borys,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
Turning to the new Metropolitan of Philadelphia, the Primate added: “The Lord sends you to care about this flock in a violent and difficult time.”
“The Lord sends you today to teach a modern man of special culture in North America to believe in God and to cure her from the wounds of sin. Today, the Lord sends you to go along with this people to the Father, to reorient all their horizons of life in the direction of God and thus to do all justice,” said the Head of the UGCC.
“It is you,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav to the new Metropolitan, “the Lord is calling today to help our sons and daughters from different backgrounds, from civil society organizations, and even from different nations and cultures, to testify to Christian life. Teach them not to condemn, but to testify. Return our Church again to the heart of our community and help overcome what separates.”
The Head of UGCC thanked Bishop Stefan Soroka, who for many years was the head of the Ukrainian Church in the United States, for serving. He also thanked Vladyka Andriy Rabiy, the Assistant Bishop, who was preparing today’s celebration.
In particular, the Head of the UGCC appealed to the episcopate, clergy and monasticism of the whole Ukrainian community and all children of the Church. “Open up to the action of the Holy Spirit, accept your new bishop and follow him. We all expect the renewal and revival of our Church in the United States today. We expect that our church structures will be redefined, modernized and will undergo, according to Pope Francis, a true pastoral conversion. Our bishopric and clergy in this country expect new leadership and communion with the broad Catholic community in the United States. We expect a new depth of unity with the mother-church in Ukraine and around the world,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information