“The Mountain Is a Place Where People Especially Come to Experience God’s Presence” — His Beatitude Sviatoslav on Mount Pip Ivan
“A mountain always helps a person lift their eyes to God. Here, the silence in which the Lord speaks to the human heart is especially tangible.” His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, shared these words during his stay on Mount Pip Ivan in the Chornohora range. This trip took place at the invitation of Valentyna Yakubiv, rector of the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav was joined by Metropolitan Volodymyr Viytyshyn of Ivano-Frankivsk, Auxiliary Bishop Mykola Semenyshyn of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy, University Rector Valentyna Yakubiv, and former Rector and current Chair of the Academic Council Ihor Tsependa as they climbed one of the highest peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians.
While at the summit, the participants prayed for Ukraine, for peace and victory for our nation, for the healing of the wounds of war among our people, for the families of Ukrainian servicemen, and for the families of Ukraine’s fallen and missing defenders.
This trip was a continuation of His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s meeting with students of the Precarpathian National University, which took place this past spring. During that visit, the students invited the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to explore Mount Pip Ivan and the legendary “White Elephant” high-altitude observatory
As His Beatitude Sviatoslav has repeatedly emphasized, the mountains teach us silence, humility, and the ability to view life from God’s perspective. Every step upward reminds us that spiritual growth also requires perseverance, trust, and constant progress.
“When a person steps away from the bustle of daily life and finds themselves amidst God’s creation, they discover themselves, their neighbor, and the Lord in a newfound way. That is precisely why the mountains become, for many, a space for prayer, gratitude, and inner renewal,” emphasized the Head of the UGCC, reflecting on the significance of the Carpathians in human life.
After the hike, the participants visited the “White Elephant” high-altitude observatory, which has become one of the symbols of the Chornohora range and a place where science, history, and respect for God’s creation meet.
Background Information
Mount Pip Ivan is one of the highest peaks in the Ukrainian Carpathians (2,028.5 m), located on the Chornohora Range on the border between Ivano-Frankivsk and Zakarpattia Oblasts. Its summit is the site of the “White Elephant” high-altitude observatory, built in 1938, which is one of the most famous historic and tourist attractions in the Carpathians.
The UGCC Department for Information
