UGCC opens first wound care center in Gostomel, Kyiv oblast
On November 8, the day of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and other incorporeal powers, the first Wound Care Center was opened in Gostomel, Kyiv Oblast. On this occasion, Bishop Yosyf Milyan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy of the UGCC, visited the parish congregation of the Transfiguration of Christ for the first time, blessing the Center and presiding over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, as it was reported by the press service of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Yosyf, in concelebration with Fr. Roman Slavych, rector of the local parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and other clergy, performed the rite of consecration of the premises of the Wound Care Center.
The Wound Care Centers are an initiative of the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Cause” to effectively and adequately respond to the aftermath of the Russian war against Ukraine. According to the head of Wise Cause, Patriarchal Economist Fr. Lubomyr Yavorsky, it is threefold.
First, it is a place to provide humanitarian aid to those most affected by the war and in need. Second, it is a space for psychological support through the involvement of professional psychologists and psychotherapists. And thirdly, it is an opportunity for more effective and comprehensive pastoral activities. The center can also be used for worship, prayers, vigils, and catechetical meetings.
The first Wound Care Center in Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast, was built with the support of faithful and caring benefactors from the Diocese of St. Josaphat in Parma, led by Bishop Bohdan Danylo.
The bishop focused his sermon to the faithful on reflections on the angelic ranks and the Archangel Michael. “The motto of the Archangel Michael is ‘Who is like God,’ which means ‘nothing is other than God.’”
According to the preacher, St. Michael the Archangel prompts us all to reflect on our own motto. “Whatever creed of our life we would come up with and whatever values we would put in the emblem of our life, God should be there because God is the beginning, the Alpha and the Omega. Without God, no coat of arms is of great value,” bishop Yosyf emphasized.
“In the first place, this house is an opportunity for us to organize our community’s liturgical and prayer life. Since today we are planning to establish a more vibrant liturgical life, so along with Sundays and holidays, we want to introduce days dedicated to memorial prayers for our departed and special days of prayers for Ukraine,” said Fr Roman Slavych in a comment to the press service of the Patriarchal Foundation “Wise Cause.”
“We mustn’t forget the ongoing initiatives in Gostomel that we have been carrying out for two years now,” Fr. Roman added. “These efforts support local individuals facing unemployment and life difficulties. We provide them with food packages, which we receive from the Patriarchal Foundation ‘Wise Cause,’ the Knights of Columbus community, and Caritas Kyiv.”
