Two Priests of the Odesa Exarchate Named Mitred Archpriests
To mark the 10th anniversary of the Odesa Exarchate, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, named Fathers Ivan Tretiak and Vasyl Kolodchyn mitred archpriests, granting them the right to wear the mitre, the highest church award.
During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Yuzhne on May 7, His Beatitude Sviatoslav personally presented awards to the priests who lead the Caritas structures in the Odesa Exarchate.
Father Ivan Tretiak is the rector of the parish of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Kropyvnytskyi and the Syncellus for Clergy Affairs of the Odesa Exarchate.
“In recognition of your zeal for the glory of God and the good of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as well as your dedicated priestly service within the territory of the Odesa Exarchate, which has yielded abundant fruits for the salvation of God’s people, including: the establishment of numerous new parishes, the construction of the magnificent Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Kropyvnytskyi, and the development of the social institution Caritas-Kropyvnytskyi UGCC, as well as your service as a chaplain for prisoners, your compassionate care for internally displaced persons during this cruel war, and your initiatives that have contributed to the growth and promotion of our Church in the South of Ukraine, we express our heartfelt gratitude, recognition, and commendation…”, — the decree says, naming Fr. Ivan a mitred archpriest.
Father Vasyl Kolodchyn is the rector of the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Yuzhne, a syncellus for social service and director of Caritas-Odesa of the UGCC.
“In recognition of your zeal for the glory of God and the good of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, as well as your long-lasting and sacrificial priestly service in the territory of the Odesa Exarchate, which has borne abundant fruit for the salvation of God’s people, including: the establishment of numerous new parishes, the construction of the magnificent Church of Peter and Paul in Yuzhne, and the development of the social institution Caritas-Odesa UGCC, along with your initiatives that have contributed to the growth and promotion of our Church in the South of Ukraine, we express our heartfelt gratitude, recognition, and praise…” — the decree says, naming Fr. Vasyl a mitred archpriest.
Addressing the newly named mitred priests during the Liturgy, His Beatitude Sviatoslav congratulated them and pointed out that the mitre is not a crown of human glory. “It is a crown of thorns. I can tell you from my own experience that blood drips from under the mitre along with sweat. You will see that you will never lack either blood or sweat,” said the Primate. He wished that these awards would serve as a sign of gratitude and trust from their Church.
The UGCC Department for Information
