Tenth Church-Wide Pilgrimage of UGCC Monastics Held in Uzhhorod
On February 3–4, 2025, bishops, priests, monks, and nuns of monastic communities and orders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church gathered in Zakarpattia for the Tenth Church-Wide Monastic Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was centered on Psalm 37: “In you, O Lord, I put my trust, and you will hear, O Lord, my God.”
This year, the monastic pilgrimage took place in the territory of the Mukachevo Eparchy, on the land of the blessed martyr Theodore Romzha. It was also attended by clergy from the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy and the Roman Catholic Church.
The pilgrimage began on February 3 at the Uzhhorod Greek Catholic Theological Academy, named after Blessed Theodore Romzha. In addition to liturgical services, the event featured night vigils with the participation of more than 30 different congregations.
The pilgrimage culminated in a procession through the streets of Uzhhorod, followed by a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the cathedral. The service was led by Archbishop Jonah Maxim, Metropolitan of Prešov, in concelebration with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine; Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission for Monasticism; Bishop Teodor Matsapula, Bishop of Mukachevo; Archbishop Ihor Voznyak, Metropolitan of Lviv; Bishop Mykola Luchok, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mukachevo; Bishop Nil Lushchak, Auxiliary Bishop of the Greek Catholic Diocese of Mukachevo; and numerous clergy from various monastic communities.
The pilgrimage concluded with a Moleben to the Blessed Virgin Mary, held within the walls of Uzhhorod Castle. The prayer service in the castle chapel was led by Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy.
“Consecrated communities are people of prayer,” said Bishop Mykhailo. “Such pilgrimages allow us to strengthen our prayer, especially in times of war—for Ukraine, for our defenders.”
The UGCC Department for Information
