His Beatitude Sviatoslav paid a pastoral visit to Chernihiv, a frontline city
On November 18, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, made a pastoral visit to Chernihiv to support the local community, study the challenges facing the region during the war, and deliver aid to the needy.
Meeting with the head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration: challenges facing the frontline region
At the beginning of his visit, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with the head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, Vyacheslav Chaus. As the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church noted, this meeting was particularly significant, as it was with Mr. Chaus that he met in the first months of the full-scale war.
During the conversation, they discussed the dire security situation in the region. According to the head of the Regional Military Administration, in October alone, more than 1,700 air targets were directed at Chernihiv, including missiles and mainly strike drones, which caused serious damage, especially to the energy infrastructure.
The most pressing challenge facing the region today is the lack of electricity and heat ahead of winter; thus, the most urgently needed resource is generators.
In response, His Beatitude Sviatoslav assured the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s solidarity and support. He emphasized that this visit is a sign of respect and attention to the Chernihiv region and to the Ukrainian people who are fighting for their dignity and freedom. The Primate assured that the Church is ready to use all available opportunities to help meet the needs of the region.
Meeting at the Redemptorist Sisters’ Convent in Chernihiv
After the meeting at the regional administration, the Head of the Church arrived at the Convent of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chernihiv, where he met with the Redemptorist Sisters, local priests, and lay people. A prayer service and a meeting with the needy took place in the church. They had gathered to receive spiritual support and humanitarian relief.
In his address to the faithful, His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized the power of prayer and faith as spiritual support in times of war. “When I arrived in Chernihiv, I wanted to feel what the community is struggling with today, what its needs are,” said the Patriarch. “We asked the regional governor how we could help. And do you know what he said? ‘Pray’. Because prayer is a great power that helps us endure.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that the secret of the Ukrainian people’s resilience is their faith in God. “The Lord God is the pivot point for people in wartime. Those who believe in Him have someone to hold on to,” he said.
During the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav distributed humanitarian aid packages to those in need, delivered to Chernihiv by the Patriarchal Foundation “Mudra Sprava” (Wise Cause). This time, the aid was provided by the Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Prešov, headed by Metropolitan Jonah Maxim. It was collected by Slovak faithful and donated through the foundation to support the most vulnerable people in Ukraine.
The Head of the Church emphasized that the Church is a big family where everyone helps each other. “We want you to feel that you are part of a big family where everyone helps each other,” he said to the faithful. “We have brought you what your brothers and sisters from Ukraine, Europe, and the world wanted to share with you.”
At the end of the meeting, the Father and Head of the UGCC prayed together with the faithful and gave them his archpastoral blessing.
