Head of the UGCC in the 148th Week of War: As We Prepare for the Nativity of Our Lord, I Remind Everyone That There Is No Christmas Without Jesus
We are once again grateful to all Ukrainians who are not fleeing Ukraine but choosing to live here. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, made this statement on the 148th week of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Primate emphasized that this week was once again marked by relentless air assaults, destruction, blood, tears, and heavy fighting along the entire front line. Ukraine endured a massive aerial attack from the Russian aggressor: approximately 300 air strikes and nearly one and a half hundred missiles of various types were launched. The energy infrastructure of our cities and villages remained the primary target of this assault.
The Head of the Church expressed gratitude to the Lord and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the gift of life.
“We are here to once again thank all Ukrainians who are not fleeing Ukraine but choosing to live here—even dying, laying down their lives to defend their homeland. And we want the whole world to hear once again that Ukraine stands! Ukraine fights! Ukraine prays!” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The spiritual leader noted that this week, a regular session of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC was held in Kyiv. Bishops from the United States, Canada, Poland, and Ukraine addressed several important topics, including advocacy for Ukraine and Ukrainian interests at the international level.
“We sought to ensure proper pastoral care for our faithful. The Permanent Synod is also preparing for the upcoming session of the Great Synod, where the central focus will be pastoral care for families during wartime,” he said.
Kyiv was deliberately chosen as the venue for this session to facilitate meaningful dialogue with Ukrainian authorities and make a statement of solidarity. Consequently, the bishops of the Permanent Synod held meetings with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Mr. Oleksandr Lytvynenko, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Andrii Sybiha, and his team. “These were extremely interesting and in-depth discussions on how to coordinate and plan our activities for the coming period,” the Primate summarized.
Read also:
Video-message of the Head of the UGCC on the 148th Week of Full-Scale War, December 15, 2024
As we prepare for Christmas, the Head of the Church reminds everyone that there is no Nativity without Jesus. Christmas means birth, and there is no birth without a newborn. “Our children have learned to anticipate and greet the newborn Savior, who is about to come to every home on Christmas Day,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
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