“Here, the Lord opens a space for healing the wounds of war,” — UGCC Head Consecrates the Church of Blessed Simeon Lukach in Starunia
On August 22, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church celebrated the consecration of Ukraine’s first underground Christian basilica—a place whose architecture, artistic design, and very construction stand as a glorious hymn to Christ’s Resurrection. This was the message delivered by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, on the day dedicated to the memory of Blessed Simeon Lukach and the consecration of the church built in his honor in Starunia, located in the Carpathian region.
During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the Consecration of the main church of the Pilgrimage Center of Blessed Martyr Simeon Lukach in Starunia, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, concelebrated alongside His Beatitude and bishops of the UGCC from Ukraine and abroad, as well as many clergy.
At the beginning of his sermon, the Primate reflected on the Gospel account of the glorious Second Coming of Christ, emphasizing three key lessons for contemporary Christians.
“The coming of the Son of Man will be like lightning flashing from east to west: the light of Christ’s truth dispels darkness and exposes all lies. Second: history is in God’s hands; the Lord is its Master and Creator, its deepest meaning. Third: be vigilant—that means to act; each of us has a mission, a spiritual responsibility given by God,” said the Primate.
“To be vigilant means to act,” he continued. “Each of us has a personal task at a time when the Church is laboring, giving birth to the resurrection and a new world in history.”
Speaking about the blessing of the new church of Blessed Simeon Lukach in Starunia, the Head of the Church described it as an icon of the resurrected Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which emerged from the catacombs of persecution and brought hope to the Ukrainian people.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalled that Blessed Martyr Simeon Lukach, bishop of the underground Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, was born, served, and ended his earthly life in Starunia after enduring years of hard labor and persecution. “He did not perish but fell asleep in the hope of the Resurrection. Therefore, this basilica is a sacred space where our Mother Church—the Church-martyr, and at the same time the bearer of Christ’s Resurrection—wants to pass on hope to future generations,” said the Head of the UGCC.
The Patriarch also noted a unique feature of this holy place: “Beneath the altar, there is a spring of living water, called by the builders ‘Simeon’s tears.’ From here, this underground stream flows into the square, which today welcomes many pilgrims.”
According to the Head of the UGCC, it is here that “the Lord opens a space for healing the wounds of war,” which is why soldiers, families of the fallen and captives, and all those in need of spiritual support are drawn to Starunia.
The Primate called the consecration of the church a symbol of Ukraine’s resilience: “If, even in times of war, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are able—by our own strength and inner resources, without external help—to build such a shrine to the glory of the Resurrection, then neither the Russian invader nor the gates of hell have, or will have, any power over us.”
Concluding his sermon, His Beatitude recalled the prophetic words of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky: “Our Church is facing Bolshevik destruction, but hold fast to your faith, hold fast to the Catholic Church, and our Church will rise again and shine in all its glory and splendor throughout the world.”
“Even today, we see how Starunia shines, how the light we heard about in God’s word at the beginning now glows through this sanctuary. Our Church has risen, and this resurrection is a pledge of hope for Ukraine’s victory,” the Head of the UGCC concluded.
After the Liturgy, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, addressed the faithful: “I pray that this pilgrimage and retreat center of Blessed Simeon Lukach will become a beacon of hope for all who come here, helping us to walk humbly toward God, the Light of our hope.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed special gratitude to the builders of the Blessed Simeon Lukach Church, brothers Vasyl and Serhiy Chufas, for their dedication and sacrifice. “These men understood that the true meaning of their lives and work is not earthly gain, but the light of Christ’s Resurrection,” said the Primate as he presented them with a Patriarchal letter.
The Head of the UGCC also thanked the numerous pilgrims and clergy—bishops, priests serving at the pilgrimage site in Starunia, and all who came to the consecration. He then granted all those present a plenary jubilee indulgence.
The UGCC Department for Information
