蜜桃交友

By Pope staff writer

鈥淒o not be afraid鈥� says Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).

This message 鈥渙f the angels given to the pastors who were in vigil with their sheep鈥� is the same one that he chooses to send to Ukrainian Greek Catholics worldwide as they prepare to celebrate Christmas.

The UGCC celebrates Christmas following the Julian calendar. It starts with Christmas eve on 6 January and ends on 19 January, the date of "Yordan" or Epiphany. 

Speaking to Pope鈥� Christopher Wells, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav notes that 鈥渧ery often, we are afraid of the future鈥�. He says that we sometimes follow particular examples and predictions, even basing them on 鈥渟o-called apocalyptic images鈥� seen in films. But for Christians, says Major Archbishop Sviatoslav, 鈥淭he future is the Christ鈥�.

The 鈥榓pocalypse鈥� for Christians, he continues, 鈥渋s the revelation of the authentic face of our Lord鈥�. This is why 鈥渨e should not be afraid鈥�, he explains: 鈥渂ecause our future was born as a small child鈥� and through this child we see and receive the blessings and tenderness of our Lord. God is with us, 鈥渨ith his love for mankind鈥�, he says.

Praying for peace in Ukraine

Referring to the political crisis facing Ukraine at the moment, in light of Christmas, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav says that the Nativity of the Lord is always linked with 鈥渆xpectations of universal peace鈥�. 鈥淚n a special way,鈥� he continues, 鈥渨e are praying for peace in our country."

The war in Ukraine began in April 2014 and has seen over 13,000 people killed; 30,000 wounded; and almost 1.5 million internally displaced.

The Patriarch notes that, as the prophet Isaiah said, 鈥渢here is no peace without truth and justice鈥�. He explains that 鈥渋n order to be able to receive this divine peace which Christ is bringing with him from heaven鈥� we must bear witness to the truth, but we must also 鈥渂e constructors of authentic justice鈥�, says the Major Archbishop Sviatoslav. This, he continues, means 鈥渟ocial justice; justice in our relationships with our neighbours鈥�, which, he stresses, is 鈥渢he foundation of the universal human society and the universal human family."

鈥淲e are praying for peace, but we have to work hard in order to bear witness to the truth and to operate to be the constructors of the final justice in our world.鈥�

Unity of human family

Finally, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav stresses that 鈥渨hen we contemplate the new born Christ we experience the unity of the whole human race.鈥� He speaks specifically of the pandemic, through which 鈥渨e rediscovered that we are all united鈥� and vulnerable but that 鈥渨e are all members of the same human family.鈥�

"So from Kyiv, from the heart of  your mother Church, I convey to you this message of unity, of solidarity: a message of love for our neighbours 鈥� a message of the worldwide solidarity."

鈥淲e can pray together鈥�, concludes Major Archbishop Sviatoslav, 鈥渢hat the new born Christ will bless us and all our families鈥� and will shed light on how to move forward together as a global Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church which lives and professes the same faith and same church traditions in different states and nations around the world鈥�.