Meeting of Bishop Mykola Bychok with UOC of USA Clergy
During his visit to North America, Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, visited the Spiritual Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, located in South Bound Brook, New Jersey.
According to the press office of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, the arrival of Cardinal to the heart of the Ukrainian Orthodox community in the United States was met with the solemn ringing of the bells of St. Andrew’s Memorial Church. Bishop Mykola was welcomed by Metropolitan Antony Scharba, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church USA; Archbishop Daniel Zelinsky, Head of the Consistory of the UOC USA; clergy; and seminarians of the St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary.
In his welcoming address, Metropolitan Antony expressed fraternal respect and gratitude to Cardinal Mykola Bychok, noting the shared mission of Orthodox and Catholic hierarchs in serving the faithful of the Ukrainian diaspora. He emphasized the importance of unity in prayer and joint efforts for the benefit of church communities not only in the USA but also in Australia. As the official statement says, “the visit of Cardinal Mykola Bychok to the Spiritual Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA was more than a simple formality — it was a profound witness of unity in faith, love for Ukraine, and dedication to the Gospel of Christ. Both Churches, though distinct in tradition, expressed their commitment to walk a common path of prayer and ministry for the benefit of their faithful across the globe.”
First, Cardinal Mykola was taken to the Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church of Saint Andrew, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holodomor of 1932–1933, where prayers were offered for the repose of millions of innocent lives and for peace in Ukraine today.
Later, there was a meeting with seminarians, during which Bishop Mykola shared thoughts about his ministry and about what being appointed a Cardinal in the Catholic Church signifies. He briefly spoke about the symbolism of the cardinal’s ring and about the new challenges and responsibilities his service carries in the broader context of the Universal Church.
The visit concluded with a discussion with hierarchs and clergy, during which current pastoral questions, ministry in the diaspora, and cooperation between Churches were addressed.
catholicukes.au
