Yushchenko, Husar, Bishops' Synod issue statements on anniversary

LVIV - On March 3-12, the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) commemorated the Lviv Sobor of 1946, where the Union of Brest of 1596 was renounced under pressure from Soviet authorities, unifying the UGCC with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Below are quotations from statements by President Viktor Yushchenko, Patriarch Lubomyr Husar and the UGCC Synod of Bishops, as reported by www.RISU.org.ua.

Prior to the commencement of a requiem concert held on March 7 at the Lviv National Opera and Ballet Theater, Patriarch Husar read a letter from President Viktor Yushchenko which expressed his regret over the events of the Sobor saying it, "opened a tragic and at the same time heroic period in the history of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church."

The UGCC Synod of Bishops on March 7 released a statement outlining the events of the past and calling upon other Churches in Ukraine "to decide on what foundations it is necessary to base their work and future prospects to reach real union in Christ." The release goes on to comment on the un-canonical nature of the Sobor because "it was summoned under horrible terror and conducted with inadmissable violations of the norms of Church law and the religious freedoms of the people."

After a religious procession and a service held on Marh 11 at St. George's Cathedral, Patriarch Husar addressed the faithful saying, "We want to remember all those who preserved our Church, who supported it and carried it to this day. The procession will be the symbol of vitality of our Church. Sixty years of tribulations became a path to new life in reinforced hope. Pray for those who suffered, but pray for those who caused the suffering, because prayer remains the main power of our Church, which united its children with God and tied them with each other."

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 26, 2006, No. 13, Vol. LXXIV

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