Apostolic Nuncio Consecrates Iconostasis of UGCC Church in Kharkiv on Christmas Day
On December 25, Christmas Day, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, presided over a festive Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kharkiv. During the communal prayer, Archbishop Visvaldas, together with Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, the Exarch of Kharkiv, and Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk of the Roman Catholic Church, consecrated the newly installed iconostasis in the cathedral’s lower church.
This event was reported by the press service of the Kharkiv Exarchate.
In his sermon, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas reflected on the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, who embodies eternal truth and love. “Christmas is our desire to be with God. Today, we woke up to explosions, and naturally, we long for an end to these attacks; we desire peace. Yet, our greatest aspiration should be unity with God in every circumstance of life,” he said.
After the service, Bishop Vasyl expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Visvaldas for his visit, their shared prayer, and his steadfast support for the victims of the war. He also thanked him for the opportunity to celebrate the Nativity of Christ in Kharkiv, a city that endured a heavy rocket attack on Christmas morning.
Kharkiv’s Deputy Mayor, Nikita Sterin, also addressed the congregation, extending his holiday greetings and wishing them unwavering faith and a victorious peace.
At the conclusion of the service, Patriarchal letters of commendation from His Beatitude Sviatoslav were read and presented to those who contributed to the creation of the newly consecrated iconostasis. The honorees included designer Myroslav Yaremak, icon painter Brother Bonifatiy Ivashkiv, and blacksmith Mykhailo Zarytskyi.
The UGCC Department for Information
