Business, Prayer, and Service: UGCC Joins Dnipro Business Club Anniversary with a Message of Unity

One of the highlights of the “Inspira” business club’s celebration was a panel discussion on the topic: “Unity for the Future.” In his address, Bishop Mykola Bychok drew the audience’s attention to the importance of Ukrainian unity in the face of the current challenges of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In particular, he recalled the calls for unity and the stance of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, who also lived through two world wars and even led the Church and the faithful during times of war and tribulation. “The Metropolitan made great efforts to build unity through cooperation and service to the Ukrainian people,” the bishop noted.

Bishop Mykola and Father Lyubomyr separately recalled the Metropolitan’s important initiatives that could be used today for the reconstruction of our country. Today, the Church follows his example in healing the wounds of war.

“This was a wonderful platform where we could show active businesses in Dnipro—and not only there, but throughout our entire Ukraine—the role of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church during the First and Second World Wars. At the same time, we turned our attention to the present and demonstrated how the Church, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav, acts today, serving the Ukrainian people in this modern war,” said Father Lyubomyr Yavorskyy.

The celebratory event concluded with a charity auction. Representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church offered as one of the lots Bishop Mykola Bychok’s personal amber rosary, which he had prayed on for a long time. It was eventually sold for 850,000 UAH. All proceeds from the auction were donated by the organizers to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“It is worth noting that this is not the first lot at an auction from Bishop Mykola. He gladly shares various gifts he has received to support our defenders,” Father Lyubomyr explained.

“When someone buys a rosary for 850,000 UAH, it’s not just about buying amber, as its price is much lower. It’s about an instrument for prayer. So, we hope that the buyers will also join the bishop’s prayer for Ukraine,” concluded Patriarchal Econome of the UGCC, Father Lyubomyr Yavorskyy.

Press Service of the Mudra Sprava Patriarchal Foundation