His Beatitude Sviatoslav Expresses Condolences on the Repose of Bishop Basil Losten
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, expressed his condolences to the faithful of the Eparchy of Stamford on the passing of His Excellency Bishop Basil Losten, Bishop Auxiliary of this eparchy, who, at the age of 95, fell asleep in the Lord on September 15, 2024, in a hospital in Stamford, USA.
“It is with deep sorrow that we received the news that our dear brother Basil Losten has gone to God for eternal reward,” the Primate said in a letter to Paul Chomnycky, the Bishop of Stamford.
Bishop Basil, the eldest member of the UGCC Synod of Bishops by both age and ordination, was described by His Beatitude Sviatoslav as “a role model and God’s blessing to all, with his charisma, determination, and enthusiasm.”
Bishop Basil, blessed with a long life by the Lord, dedicated his years to constant work and prayer, retaining a sharp mind and strong will until his final breath. He was a true spiritual father to both priests and laity, always ready to offer support and comfort to those around him.
“Bishop Basil Losten’s legacy united not only millennia and centuries but also continents separated by thousands of kilometers. He was born and lived his life in America, but his heart and thoughts were always in Ukraine,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav. “All his efforts were directed to the development of our Church, especially when it came out of the underground and needed resources for its revival.”
Moreover, the Patriarch commended the bishop’s immense contribution to the construction of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, which today symbolizes the unity of the children of the Church from all over the world: “His name is inscribed in golden letters in the history of this church, where a prayer is offered for its benefactors at every Divine Liturgy.”
“Thanks to the efforts of the late bishop, thousands of pilgrims who visit St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome can see and pray to the Ukrainian saints and equal-to-the-postles Volodymyr and Olga,” added His Beatitude Sviatoslav. “We commend all these good deeds of the newly departed archbishop into God’s hands.
“We believe that Bishop Vasyl is already in the arms of the loving Savior, for whose glory he lived, and is saying his last word to us: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’ (II Tim. 4:7),” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav and added: “At this time of farewell, we ask the late archbishop: Dear Bishop, you loved Ukraine and your Church so much—pray that the Lord will save us from destruction and bring peace to our ravaged land.”
The UGCC Department for Information
