Ukrainian Orthodox bishops' conference holds annual convocation in Belgium (09/07/97)

Ukrainian Orthodox bishops' conference holds annual convocation in Belgium

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - Members of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops outside Ukraine held their annual synaxis at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Genk, Belgium, on July 1-2. Gathered for the two-day convocation were the following archpastors: from Canada, Metropolitan Wasyly, Archbishop John and Bishop Yurij; from the United States and diaspora eparchies, Metropolitan Constantine, and Archbishops Antony and Vsevolod, Bishop Ioan and Bishop Jeremiah. Absent for reasons of health were Metropolitan Anatolij of Paris and Bishop Paisij of the U.S.

The conference, held during the commemoration of St. Leontii, canonarch of the Pecherska Lavra (July 1) and the Apostle Jude (July 2), focused on matters vital to spiritual growth and development of the faithful.

The archpastors revisited various aspects of their primary archpastoral, "By the Grace of God," most notably the section pertaining to vocations, and in conjunction with this year's theme, issued an archpastoral titled "I will give you shepherds," which stresses the urgency and sense of priority that must be given by all Orthodox Christians to the matter of vocations.

Need for harmony is cited

Reflecting upon the confusion evidenced by the existence of multiple Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdictions in contemporary Ukraine, the bishops once again articulated the need for harmony and fraternal cooperation and issued a plea for "the unity of God's holy Churches" and the eventual establishment of one native ecclesiastical body in sovereign Ukraine.

A unanimous decision of the Permanent Council of Bishops was made to dispatch an episcopal delegation to the World Forum of Ukrainians that met in Kyiv in August. The delegates included: Archbishop Vsevolod (U.S.) Bishop Yurij (Canada) and Bishop Jeremiah (Curitiba and Latin America) and plans included a meeting with President Leonid Kuchma to present the Permanent Council's position concerning Ukraine's right to a native autocephalous ecclesiastical body.

The Council embraced the canonization of Ukraine's 17th century defender of Orthodox Christianity, Metropolitan Petro Mohyla, and likewise of Paisii Velychkovskyi, and petitioned the Ecumenical Throne that the name of St. Petro Mohyla (January 1 and 14) and of St. Paisii (November 17 and 30) be included in the Mineon of the Great Church of Constantinople.

Focus on vital issues

The archpastors also focused on two issues of vital concern, ministry to the youth and to the elderly. As pertains to youth, the Permanent Council welcomed the establishment of a Youth Ministry Department at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S., and pledged to develop similar ministries in their respective metropoliae, and to work closely with the U.S.-based ministry to coordinate effective programs. As announced in "By the Grace of God ...," 1998 has been declared The Year of Ukrainian Orthodox Youth.

The needs of the elderly also were the focus of archpastoral attention. Noting the present culture of death that has taken hold in our time, the archpastors stressed the sanctity and dignity of life and addressed the matter of the Church's ministry to those faithful, pillars of Church life and models of faith, who are aging and most especially, to those who suffer debilitating illnesses.

The Church's ministry to the increasingly numerous disadvantaged of society was also a topic. The bishops meeting established a Commission for Service to Senior Citizens and the Disadvantaged, and entrusted Archbishop Antony of New York with the task of preparing a program whereby the Church might more adequately enhance the lives of the elderly, the challenged and the disadvantaged.

Also, a new bilingual prayerbook was reviewed and approved.

Established in 1996, the Permanent Council of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops outside of Ukraine meets annually. The 1998 synaxis is scheduled to take place in Winnipeg in conjunction with festivities marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

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