Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Melbourne: We came not only to testify to unity, but also to build this unity
The future belongs to God only! If you have retained an understanding of your roots and your faith in God, everything you have acquired will remain even after the Lord God calls you to His heavenly home. This was emphasized by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, during his sermon on December 7 at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, Australia.
During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the Head of the Church was concelebrated by: Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Bishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Peter Comensoli of the Roman Catholic Archeparchy of Melbourne, bishops of the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and clergy of the eparchy.
In his sermon, the Primate conveyed to the faithful “sincere greetings from Ukraine, from our golden-domed Kyiv,” emphasizing that every Ukrainian in the world remains in the heart and prayers of the Mother Church. “I want to embrace you with the affection of your mother Church, so that you may have a deep awareness and conviction that even though you are geographically far away, in Australia, you are not distant or alienated from your mother Church,” he said.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav pointed out the uniqueness of this event: for the first time in history, the Permanent Synod of the UGCC is holding its session in Australia. “This Synod is an icon of our global Church,” the Patriarch emphasized. “We have come not only to testify to the unity of such a great Ukrainian Church, but to build this unity.”
Commenting on the Gospel account (Luke 12:16–21), the preacher reflected on the question: what does my life stand on? He explained the deep biblical meaning of the word “earth” — not only as territory or economic resource, but as the space of God’s presence, His blessing, human dignity, and roots.
“If someone understands the concept of ‘earth’ only in a narrow sense—as solely economic freedom, only in the sense of a land resource for personal enrichment—then they truly become a fool and argue like the ‘rich’ man in today’s parable,” noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
He noted that the worst poverty is spiritual emptiness. “Someone may have plenty of money in their pockets, but if they have nothing more than what can be stored in their storerooms, they are poor and unhappy people. They do not understand that it is not storehouses that need to be built, but their own hearts that need to be opened to God and their neighbors!” said the Primate, stressing that only the Heavenly Bread of the Eucharist provides life to the soul.
Addressing the faithful in Australia, the Head of the UGCC called for the preservation of heritage and responsibility for the future of the Ukrainian community: “Everything that you have acquired and built—houses, churches, organizations—who will it belong to?” asked the bishop. “If you have preserved an understanding of your roots, if you have preserved your faith in God, everything you have acquired will remain even after the Lord God calls you to His eternal dwelling.”
The Patriarch also spoke about the war in Ukraine and manipulations regarding “territorial concessions” for the sake of peace, reminding everyone that Ukrainian land is not just territory, but “a place of dignity, freedom, and heritage” that cannot be renounced.
“They tell us: give up your territory, give up your land, and you will have peace. But our message to the world goes as follows: the Russian aggressor is not fighting for territory in Ukraine. Russia is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of territory. They have a lot of land and territory… Their target is the destruction of the Ukrainian people… It is impossible to appease a criminal by satisfying his appetites! He can and must be stopped!” emphasized the preacher.
Thanking Ukrainians in Australia for their unwavering solidarity, His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that in the darkness of war, the human heart shines especially brightly: “When the enemy seeks to rob us of our warmth, we warm each other with the comfort of our hearts… Thank you for enlightening and warming the hearts of millions of Ukrainians in their homeland.”
“Today, together with the bishops of the Permanent Synod, we want to be witnesses of hope,” said the Primate. “Be assured: Ukraine stands, Ukraine fights, Ukraine prays.”
After the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the UGCC expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne for his support, solidarity, and prayers for the Ukrainian people.
Archbishop Comensoli thanked the bishops of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC, led by the Father and Head of the Church, for their presence in Australia. Addressing the faithful, he said: “Friends, we all declare in the Creed that we pray in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. And we express this today together in our community, knowing that the Lord is with each of us and with all of you.”
The UGCC Department for Information
Photo credit: Michael Wang
