Metropolitan of the OCU Passes Relics of St. Andrew the First-Called and Prince Volodymyr to Head of UGCC
On January 23, 2025, within the framework of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a solemn ceremony took place in the administrative building of the Patriarchal Center of the UGCC in Kyiv. During this event, the relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called and Prince Volodymyr were officially transferred to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC.
The relics were presented by Bishop Oleksandr Drabynko, Metropolitan of Pereyaslav and Vyshneve of the OCU, accompanied by Ihor Lysov, chairman of the parish council of the Transfiguration Cathedral. The ceremony was attended by Bishop Yosyf Milan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy, and Bishop Stepan Sus, Curial Bishop.
Upon receiving the relics, His Beatitude Sviatoslav remarked, “The relics of St. Volodymyr are a profound shrine and treasure for us because we are all children of the Church of St. Volodymyr’s baptism.”
He expressed deep gratitude to the Metropolitan, highlighting that receiving these relics “is a special gift of God for our Church.”
“This year we mark two significant anniversaries: the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of our Kyiv Archeparchy, symbolizing our return to our ancestral roots, and the 20th anniversary of the return of our Church’s Head, His Beatitude Lubomyr, to Kyiv. Since then, we have been rediscovering our Kyivan origins,” the Head of the UGCC noted. He added, “Today, Prince Volodymyr’s historical and spiritual significance is growing ever greater for us.”
Reflecting on the theme of prayer for Christian unity, His Beatitude Sviatoslav quoted the dissident essayist Yevhen Sverstiuk: “Fortunately, church divisions do not reach heaven.”
“Holding the relics of St. Volodymyr, we are reminded that during his time, Christianity was united. There was no division between Constantinople and Rome, Catholics and Orthodox. The Church of Christ was one. For us, he stands as a witness of that undivided, unified Church,” the Primate emphasized.
Following the ceremony, the relics were placed in the chapel within the administrative building of the Patriarchal Center, where they will be preserved.
“We will strive to ensure these relics are accessible to the faithful so that more people can venerate Prince Volodymyr and pray for the unity of the once united but now divided Kyivan Church, as well as for unity among the Ukrainian people,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav added.
Metropolitan Oleksandr, speaking about the transfer, noted the special significance of the event during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He described it as a privilege to hand over these relics, which had been preserved in the Foundation established in memory of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr Sabodan.
“His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr and Patriarch Lubomyr Husar shared a warm relationship. At the time, I was secretary to Metropolitan Volodymyr, and His Beatitude Sviatoslav was secretary and assistant to Patriarch Lubomyr. This initiative arose naturally, and I could not refuse to participate,” Bishop Oleksandr explained.
Earlier, on January 18, an interfaith prayer service for Christian unity was held at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. This year’s World Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed from January 18 to 25.
The UGCC Department for Information
