His Beatitude Sviatoslav becomes an Honorary Citizen of Stryi
On August 24, during a solemn meeting of the Stryi City Council to mark the Independence Day of Ukraine, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was awarded the Honorary Citizen of Stryi.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Stryi, September 16, 2021
Having learned about the decision of the Stryi City Council to grant him the title of Honorary Citizen, the Head of the Church expressed his gratitude and recognition.
“My hometown of Stryi was a special cradle that raised me and granted me a pass to life,” the Primate admitted. “Using the expression of the Apostle Paul, I can say that thanks to God’s grace and the people of Stryi, I am who I am today.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that he has always been proud to have been born in this renowned city, which so faithfully preserves spiritual, cultural, and national traditions, and thanked everyone who raised him: “I want to thank all my teachers, neighbors, relatives, friends, and acquaintances who still live in Stryi. I always try to speak with gratitude and pride to the world about my small homeland, my hometown.”
Moreover, the Head of the UGCC recalled that today, not only his parents but also the parents of Myroslav-Ivan Cardinal Lubachivsky are buried in the Stryi cemetery and that he can see the example of such giants of the spirit of faith in Christ as Fr. Ostap Nyzhankivsky and other heroes and martyrs of the underground persecuted Church who are buried here.
“May the Lord bless this community of devout Christians, patriots of the Motherland, and simply good people! I will proudly carry the title of Honorary Citizen of my hometown. With a prayer, I will remember all of you every day, standing before God’s face,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed the representatives of the Stryi City Council.
The UGCC Department for Information
