Iceland Celebrates Third Anniversary of Ukrainian Catholic Church Pastoral Ministry
On November 9, the Ukrainian community in Iceland, together with the Catholic community of Reykjavik, celebrated the third anniversary of the pastoral care of the faithful of the Byzantine Rite, initiated with the blessing of Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, Apostolic Exarch for Germany and Scandinavia.
This was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Iceland.
Three years ago, on November 9, 2022, Redemptorist Father Mykhailo Ivanyak arrived in Iceland, where he has been serving Ukrainian believers who were forced to leave their homeland due to the war.
Bishop David Tenzer of Iceland, Ordinary of the Diocese of Reykjavik, who provides substantial support for the presence and ministry of the UGCC on the island, joined the prayer with the priest and the Ukrainian community. During the service, thanks were given to God and to people of good will for the opportunity to pray together at a time when Ukraine is undergoing the severe trials of war.
In his sermon, Bishop David addressed Ukrainians with words of support and deep respect for their witness of faith in a foreign land.
“I know that many of you would not want to leave Ukraine if there were no war. But, unfortunately, this is the reality. The Church does not have the power to stop this terrible course of events, but it can and must care for people who are undergoing difficulties,” said the bishop.
He thanked Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh for his initiative to send a priest to Iceland and also expressed his gratitude to Fr. Mykhailo Ivanyak “for his good and fruitful service.”
Comparing the path of Ukrainians with that of the first Christians, who were scattered throughout the world after persecution, the bishop emphasized that forced exile can also become a mission.
“You are not here only as refugees. You are Christians who bear witness to your faith in a new land. Continue to carry out this important mission,” Bishop David said to the Ukrainians.
At the end, the faithful prayed for peace in Ukraine and for all those suffering from the war, thanking God for three years of shared prayer, support, and spiritual unity in the distant northern land.
The UGCC Department for Information
