“Icon of the Church that warms”: His Beatitude Sviatoslav blesses Center for Healing the Wounds of War in Boryspil

“Today, we bless a space that is an ‘icon of the Church that warms,’” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. “This is a place where people can feel the warmth of family, the warmth of the Church, and the warmth of God”. Previously known as “Points of Invincibility,” these centres help people withstand the hardships of war, according to the Information Department of the UGCC.

“The parish actively supports internally displaced persons (IDPs),” explains Father Ihor Shaban, rector of the parish in Boryspil. “We regularly organize meetings for IDPs, provide them with food and hot meals, and offer spiritual and educational support, including adult catechesis and Sunday school for children”.

“The Center runs a Sunday school for children and catechesis for adults. It also hosts meetings of the national scouting organization Plast and other youth communities. We strive to use this space for the benefit of the community and our Church”, summarized Fr. Ihor.

Among those who came to pray and receive assistance was Tetiana. She and her daughter fled Kupiansk. “We need basic necessities for life,” she says. “It would be very difficult without this help. My daughter has finally found a job, and the assistance with rent and other expenses is invaluable! Thank you!”

Mr. Mykhailo, who fled the Donetsk region after his home was occupied by the Russians, had only his car to evacuate his family. “For people like us, any help is crucial — from the Church, the state, and from individuals. We are grateful to everyone! We were left without a home in our old age”.

“Philanthropists from France, L’Œuvre d’Orient, generously supported the construction of this center. Thanks to their contribution, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church will be able to provide spiritual, psychological, and humanitarian assistance to local residents,” stated Patriarchal Econome Fr. Lyubomyr Yavorskyy.

He further emphasized, “Here, within this center, social and psychological work alongside pastoral ministry is carried out. There are many wounds that need healing. Today, we also distributed food packages with the support of our German Exarchate, which collaborates with the German Province of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They generously provided the funds for these food packages. Currently, we are facing another wave of refugees from Kupiansk and Pokrovsk. Many people are arriving, seeking refuge and support. They desperately need our assistance”.

Following the consecration, the Head of the UGCC joined in the distribution of food packages provided by the Patriarchal Foundation “Mudra Sprava”.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav concluded, “Let us ensure that these doors remain open. For if this space of resilience closes, we will immediately become vulnerable once more. If people know that these doors are always open, they will always come here. As Patriarch Josyf Slipyj once wisely said, ‘If there is a house, people will come.’ These centres are built for the people. They possess everything necessary: light, warmth, and all the means to offer assistance. Let us ensure that life pulsates within these walls: the life of our community, our society, the life of Ukraine, and the life of our Church”.