The 12th All-Ukrainian Patriarchal Pilgrimage Held in Krylos
On August 3–4, 2024, the XII All-Ukrainian Patriarchal Pilgrimage to the Galician Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God took place. As in previous years, the pilgrimage was led by the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav. The pilgrims prayed for Ukraine’s victory in the war and the long-awaited peace in our land.
The pilgrimage to Krylos began on Saturday, August 3, with an evening prayer program attended by many pilgrims from different parts of Ukraine, including the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy of the UGCC.
The program of the first day of the pilgrimage featured several significant events. It began with Great Vespers with the Litany, followed by a solemn procession with the Galician miraculous icon of the Mother of God and candles around the Patriarchal Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bishop Teodor Matsapula provided spiritual teaching. Additionally, there was a prayer service to the Mother of God, as well as a chant rosary to God’s mercy and prayers for healing.
On Sunday, July 4, the culminating part of the pilgrimage, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, was held, with His Beatitude Sviatoslav presiding. The Head of the Church was greeted in the heart of princely Halych by local youth, as well as Ms. Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Administration, Mr. Vasyl Hladiy, first deputy head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council, Mr. Ruslan Martsinkiv, mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Mr. Oleh Kantor, head of the Halych territorial community, and Father Yaroslav Zholob, rector of the pilgrimage site.
Archbishop and Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn of Ivano-Frankivsk, Archbishop and Metropolitan Ihor Vozniak of Lviv, and many UGCC bishops concelebrated at the Liturgy, along with clergy of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy and other UGCC dioceses.
The Resurrection Choir of the Patriarchal Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krylos accompanied the prayer.
In his sermon, His Beatitude Sviatoslav reflected on the healing bestowed by the Lord: “Today, the Word of God (Matthew 9:1–8) proclaims to us Jesus Christ as a healer who comes to renew a person, to bring them back to the integrity of their personal life, to the authenticity of their relationship with themselves, with another person, and with the reality in which they live.”
The Head of the Church pointed out the power and authority that come from Jesus and called on the faithful to listen to the word of the Gospel and consider how the power of Christ reaches us and how we can draw from it. “We need to draw from the source of power in order to be healed. In fact, repentance, the forgiveness of sins, is nothing more than a person’s approach to God, who heals. Interestingly, Christ does not rebuke the paralyzed man for his sins; instead, he heals him. He acts first, before anyone speaks. It is interesting that the poor sick man and his friends did not have time to ask Jesus for anything. Christ is the first to address those who are before Him. This is a real divine truth that is being revealed today: to have strength, one must first repent. Healing comes as a consequence and fruit of conversion,” said the preacher.
“Every time we desire to be strong, to overcome our own weakness and sinfulness, we must repent! Since repentance is not a humiliation, but rather a healing. Repentance is a return to God, our Creator and Savior. Repentance is a source of healing,” said the Patriarch.
After the Liturgy, the Primate, in compliance with the Church’s regulations, called on the pilgrims to pray together with the intention of the Holy Father Francis to receive a full absolution. Then the Head of the UGCC gave all the pilgrims his hierarchical blessing.
The Head of the Church thanked all the bishops who came to the pilgrimage, especially Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn, thanks to whom “every year, despite various circumstances, the faithful have the opportunity to come to Krylos Mountain to derive a source of strength here.” Additionally, the Primate greeted Bishop Josaphat Moschych of the Diocese of Chernivtsi on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop, which took place on August 3, 2014, in Krylos. The Head of the Church also thanked the clergy, monastics, the community of the Ivano-Frankivsk Theological Seminary of St. Josaphat, the regional and local authorities, the mothers of the fallen Ukrainian soldiers, pilgrims, youth, and all the organizers of the pilgrimage for their communal prayer.
Addressing the parents, wives, and children of the Heroes of Ukraine, the Patriarch expressed his sincere gratitude on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people and assured them of the constant prayerful support of the clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The soldiers then took the floor and thanked the Head of the UGCC for his steadfast prayer and support of the defenders of Ukraine, and handed over a flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers.
Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn thanked the Patriarch for his visit to the Carpathian region: “Thank you for coming to princely Halych, to Krylos, to lead the patriarchal pilgrimage to the Halych Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God here, in the ancient metropolitan seat of our Church. All of us are deeply grateful to you for the solemn Liturgy, the admonishing word, the prayer for Ukraine, our medics, and volunteers.”
In the end, the clergy and the faithful offered a prayer to the Lord for the long-awaited peace and victory of Ukraine, singing “God, Great, and One.”
The UGCC Department for Information
by the Information Department of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy of the UGCC
