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The Permanent Synod has made the necessary steps for the preparation of this year’s Patriarch’s Synod of Bishops
06-10-2009
The work of the Permanent Synod of Bishops of the UGCC was completed in London. During three days the members of the Synod considered the important themes of church life. Necessary steps were taken for the preparation of this year's Patriarch's Synod of Bishops, which will be held from November 29 to December 9, 2009, in Lviv-Bryukhovychi. The next steps were recognized for the preparation and execution of the Patriarch's Sobor on the theme of consecrated life, which will take place in 2011 in Brazil. Furthermore, amendments were made to the regulations of the Pastoral-Missionary Department and to the regulations of the Patriarchal Commission on matters of evangelization. Other important questions for church life were considered. "All these decisions are called to assist for a more effective realization by the Church of its basic mission: blessing the faithful, the proclamation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in Ukraine and abroad," commented Bishop Bohdan (Dzyurakh), the secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC.
The basic theme of this year's Patriarch's Synod is evangelization. In this context Bishop Bohdan said: "As the proclamation of the Gospel with a word and life is the matter of all disciples of Christ without any exception, the Church aims to pay regard to the different groups of believers - priests, deacons, monks and nuns, and also laity - giving them a chance to deepen their spiritual life and thus live better with the Christian vocation. During this year special attention was placed on priesthood, but next year special attention will be placed on monastic life. The year 2010 has to become the year to prepare for the Patriarch's Council on the theme monasticism."
In order to get to know better the conditions of the ministry and the necessity of our exarchate in Great Britain, the members of the Permanent Synod held meetings with the priests and representatives of church and public organizations, in particular with the members of Saint Sofia London Society. In addition, Bishop Ihor (Voznyak) and Bishop Vasyl (Semenyuk) visited the communities of the UGCC in Manchester and Bratford, where they had the possibility to meet with the faithful, hear their ideas concerning the development of the exarchate, and to tell them about the life of the UGCC in Ukraine. During the meeting with the newly-appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians of the Byzantium rite in Great Britain, Bishop Hlib (Lonchyna), the members of Permanent Synod expressed their wishes for the subsequent strengthening of our structures in the exarchate, paying regard to the necessity of a more active search of our faithful, and also greater openness of the Church to all people of good will who are looking for a meeting with Christ. The Church, in the opinion of the members of the Synod, has to care not only for the maintenance of the identity of the faithful but also must share the riches of the Church's tradition with all interested people.
The culmination of the stay of the members of the Permanent Synod on hospitable Britannic land was the Sunday's Divine Liturgy during which the newly-appointed Apostolic Administrator - Bishop Hlib (Lonchyna) - was solemnly entered into the government. In the Liturgy in Cathedral of the Holy Family took part the Apostolic Nuncio in Great Britain, Archbishop Faustino Munoz, and also His Majesty Vincent Dzherard Nikols, Archbishop of Westminster.
In his sermon during the Liturgy His Beatitude Lubomyr stressed that maintaining the gift of faith is a main task of all faithful. The head of the UGCC passed as a gift to the church's community in London a wooden cross crafted by Ukrainian experts for the cathedral. In this context, His Beatitude Lubomyr addressed the newly arrived emigrants from Ukraine with a special word, expressing a wish that each time they will bow to this cross, they will feel the closeness of their native land and so that from the Lord's cross they find strength for daily trials and work.
Bishop Hlib, having thanked the present guests for the prayer's support, underlined that he arrived to Great Britain with one purpose: to serve, and by serving all those who are in need he sees his main task.
Information Department of the UGCC
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