“Christian solidarity and acting love enable people to persevere in these circumstances”: Head of the UGCC in Lubny
July 13, 2023
On July 13, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, made a pastoral visit to the Poltava region. Specifically, he visited Lubny, where he presided over a liturgy in the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and delivered humanitarian aid from the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Cause.”
At the outset, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that he was grateful to God for the opportunity to visit the town of Lubny for the first time. “This is a special experience for me, a special opportunity to visit this thousand-year-old city of Lubny for the first time,” said the Primate, “a city that has its unique history, which has always been such a border outpost of the Kyivan state, which remembers how Volodymyr Monomakh defeated nomadic tribes here, near your city, and thus laid the foundation for the victorious glory of its residents.”
In his sermon, the Head of the Church also mentioned a prayer for the Motherland, his native land today, which is defending its freedom and independence. He thanked the boys and girls at the front, who are protecting our peaceful day with their breasts.
In addition, the Primate thanked the clergy who participated in the joint prayer in the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
After the Liturgy, the Head of the Church spoke with the faithful, including internally displaced persons, visited the parish Caritas and distributed humanitarian aid from the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Cause.” “We did not come to you empty-handed,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “A large humanitarian convoy from Kyiv from the Patriarchal Foundation ‘Wise Cause’ arrived so that we could serve people who have lost their livelihoods here. Only Christian solidarity and acting love enable people to persevere in these circumstances.”
The rector of the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lubny, Fr. Vasyl Ulishak, thanked the Head of the UGCC for the visit and noted that this event has a profound meaning because the Ukrainian people in difficult historical times need spiritual care as never before.
The UGCC Department for Information