“The Cross as the tree of life and the source of our strength, truth, immortality and resurrection is today solemnly worshiped in the temple. We see that this rite is of cosmic importance,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Kyiv Triokhsviatytelska Theological Seminary on Friday, September 27, 2019. On that day the Church celebrated a great feast – the Exaltation of the honest and life-giving Cross of the Lord.
The Head of the UGCC spoke about the true meaning of this holiday and the Cross in our lives.
“Commenting on the meaning, content and worship of the Cross, Saint Paul the Apostle tells us that the Cross, as the New Testament tree of life, is a source of strength for everyone who is saved. Whenever it seems to us that our forces are leaving us, that evil seems stronger than good – a Christian seeks the cross of the Lord. It is the sign of victory over evil and the devil,” said the spiritual leader of the Greek Catholics.
And later he added: “The Cross is the source of Christian wisdom. The Cross is the moment when humiliation is transformed into exaltation. The Cross is the moment when the Father glorifies his Son.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed the seminarians: “At the beginning of the new academic year, find this tree of life and it will be the key to your success and strength, and will help you overcome all the difficulties of your seminary life, overcome doubts, temptations and help learn the divine wisdom that Christians derive from the power of the Lord’s Cross.”
In addition, the Primate thanked everyone who workes at the seminary for their diligence and zealous service.
After the Liturgy in the seminary church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, traditionally at the beginning of the new academic year, met separately with the freshmen.
Photo: Roman Malko
The UGCC Department for Information