“Remember Your Homeland!” — His Beatitude Sviatoslav to the Students of the Ukrainian School in Ottawa
On March 1, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, together with the bishops of the Permanent Synod, visited the Lesia Ukrainka Ukrainian Saturday School in Ottawa, Canada. The students, along with their parents and teachers, gathered to meet with the Primate and the bishops.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav introduced the bishops of the Permanent Synod and expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian community for preserving their culture and language abroad.
“On behalf of Ukraine, I thank you for not forgetting your homeland, your language, and your culture here in Canada,” said the Head of the UGCC.
The Patriarch also thanked the teachers and administration of the Ridna School for their dedication and emphasized the importance of fostering a Ukrainian environment for children, especially those forced to leave Ukraine because of the war.
“Often, children arrive in Canada wounded by war and in need of special care and love to heal these wounds, grow up happy, healthy, and wise, and become the best they can be,” he said.
Speaking to the children, His Beatitude Sviatoslav stressed that being Ukrainian today means striving for excellence in all areas of life, regardless of where one lives.
The Head of the UGCC also described the difficult realities of education in Ukraine during the war, noting that about 250,000 children are unable to attend school due to ongoing hostilities, with some forced to study in bomb shelters. He therefore urged the students to appreciate their opportunity to study in a safe environment:
“You have a remarkable opportunity here. In Ukraine, unfortunately, many children cannot go to school. So, study hard! Be wise, and remember your homeland!” His Beatitude Sviatoslav urged.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Head of the Church gave his blessing to all present and wished for the continued growth of the Ukrainian Saturday School in Ottawa:
“May the Lord bless you all! May the Ukrainian school flourish, and may the children who attend it become the best Ukrainians in Canada!”
