People who lose their national, cultural, and church memory are unhappy. But blessed are the people who know how to remember, — the Head of the UGCC at the play about Patriarch Josyf Slipyj
Today’s event was a great wave of memories that teach and educate. His Beatitude Sviatoslav said in Ternopil after watching the performance “Golgotha. The Mystery of Defiance” on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the birth of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj. The play was performed by the actors of the Ternopil Academic Regional Drama Theater, named after T. G. Shevchenko, which took place within the framework of the “Obnova” conference “What is our tomorrow?”
In his speech after the performance, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said: “The mystery of defiance, which you and I experienced here together, said it all. It first spoke about the figure of our great patriarch Josyf, but through his person — about our Church, our Ukrainian people. We see that nothing has changed. The one who crucified our people in the time of Patriarch Josyf continues to do so today. But it is impossible to destroy the Church. Because she is the body of the resurrected Jesus Christ, she is immortal. Therefore, the people who have such a Church are eternal. Because no matter how many times they crucified it, the day of its resurrection will always come.”
“This mystery teaches us to be disobedient, — noted the bishop. — That is why we are a nation that never puts up with injustice and slavery. Instead, we raise our eyes to the stars.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav mentioned that this day is dedicated to youth. “Patriarch Josyf loved young people very much. Even in exile, he did everything to gather love of truth in those around him. Therefore, I wish you to go with that mystery to different settlements because today, millions of Ukrainians, like cranes in a whirlwind, let go and fly to new worlds. Follow them, call them, and let them feel the smell of their native land.”
The UGCC Department for Information
