Father Josaphat Voytek Elected Hegumen of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra: UGCC Head Approves Election and Congratulates the Brethren
On December 19, 2023, the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra of the Studite Statute held an election of the hegumen, which Bishop Teodor Martyniuk chaired as a representative of the Head of the UGCC. The General Council elected Hieromonk Josaphat Voytek as its new superior. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, has already approved this choice by a separate Decree and congratulated the newly elected hegumen of the Studite.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav appointed Father Josaphat as hegumen of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra for a 5-year term starting December 20, 23.
In his congratulatory letter, the Head of the UGCC extended his greetings to the entire brotherhood, particularly Fr. Josaphat. The Patriarch called this choice “the fruit of the prayers of the monastery’s brethren,” which he sincerely accepts, thanking the Lord God for calling Fr. Josaphat to such a responsible ministry. “This is a manifestation of great trust in you from your confreres and a sign that they will support you in exercising your government for the good of the monastery. Please accept from me words of gratitude for the sacrificial service of the Studite monks, which is a blessing for our Church,” the letter reads.
The Head of the Church pointed out that Fr. Josaphat became hegumen at a difficult time when a dreadful war of aggression is raging on the Ukrainian land. “This war will leave behind not only devastated and scourged cities and villages but also deep wounds in the hearts of Ukrainians,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav and added: “You witness this already today as you have provided refuge to hundreds of wounded immigrants in the Univ Lavra, who, fleeing the horrors of war, are seeking not only physical protection but also spiritual support and comfort here. By being hospitable to them, the monastic brothers revealed the face of the merciful God, who is always on the side of the offended and afflicted.”
The number of wounded people, according to the Primate, will be growing, and they will need to be “healed” with prayer and the Holy Sacraments. “I ask the merciful God to give you and your confreres the strength to perform this difficult but blessed ministry,” said the Father and Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav called on the newly elected hegumen of the Studites to be open to the action of the Holy Spirit, entrusted his ministry to the special care of the Mother of God and the prayerful guidance of the deceased fathers and brothers of the Studite Order, who “standing at the throne of the Lord, ask for the necessary Lord’s graces for you,” and wished that St. Josaphat Kuntsevych would be an example of perseverance and devotion to Christ and His Church.
Asking Fr. Josaphat and all the brethren for prayer, His Beatitude Sviatoslav assured that as a spiritual father entrusted with the care of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra, he will support all the initiatives of the new hegumen, which will be aimed at the development of our Church, the preaching of the Word of God and the well-being of God-loving people. “I pray to the merciful God that the duration of your administration will be marked by the strengthening of the monastery and zealous vocations to the consecrated life,” added the Head of the UGCC.
Reference
Hieromonk Josaphat was born on June 8, 1970, in the village of Chulovychi in the Lviv region. In 1990, he entered the monastery and was tonsured into the Small Schema on June 18, 1994. After graduating from the Lviv Theological Seminary, he was ordained a hieromonk on January 2, 1999. During his stay in the monastery, he was the abbot of the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Rudno from 1998 to 2005 and the deputy abbot of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra from 2005 to 2010.
The Holy Father Francis named the previous abbot of the Holy Dormition Univ Lavra, the Rev. Fr. Jonah Maxim Archbishop and Metropolitan of Prešov, Head of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church.
The UGCC Department for Information
