CV NEWS FEED // For the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine two years ago, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is currently visiting the United States.
According to a press release from the Ukrainian Archdiocese of Philadelphia, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk is in Washington, D.C. March 3-6, 2024, along with five bishops comprising the Permanent Synod.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest Eastern Catholic Church in Communion with the Holy See.
His Beatitude concelebrated a liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine on Sunday with Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington.
During his homily, Shevchuk reflected on the “Glorious and Lifegiving Cross” of Jesus, and its particular significance for the Ukrainian Church. The Major Archbishop described the cross as “an oasis,” from which “the Living Water of the Holy Spirit flows,” from the “open and pierce side of the crucified Savior.”
The cross, which “turns into a true Tree of Life,” he said, “is the secret of Christian resilience and a symbol of our faith in the resurrection.”
Ukrainians recently observed the second anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24. Shevchuk recalled a soldier who would frequently pray in front of the crucifix at his local church as the conflict worsened. This soldier confided in Shevchuk that “the cross is the only place where I can bring all my pain!”
“When I go to visit the graves of my comrades in arms and see their wives and children crying, my pain increases,” the soldier continued. “Here, I can bring it, leave it and return with new energy to fight.”
The soldier’s words inspired Shevchuk to build a memorial at an intersection near the battle line at the start of the war, where Ukrainian soldiers fought against Russian troops from the north. Dedicated to the “thousands of fallen defenders of Ukraine,” the memorial is called “Cross of Heroes.”
“It is truly a great grace of God’s providence, a small miracle, that we can be here today with you, praying for our Church and our people here in the National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington,” Shevchuk said, concluding:
We would like to have the opportunity to share our wounds and sufferings, but at the same time to share our strengths, our dreams, and our gifts. I am grateful to all of you for your tireless prayer and work for the good of Ukraine and our victory over the Russian invaders.
We will win if we are together: together with God, together with one another regardless of where we live, and together with Ukraine!
Sunday’s liturgy marked the start of the regular Session of the Permanent Synod of Ukrainian bishops, which Shevchuk and his fellow bishops are currently participating in.
“Throughout their stay, His Beatitude and the members of the Permanent Synod will hold meetings with government officials to address pressing issues,” the press release stated, “including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the imperative need to safeguard religious freedom amid persecution of Christians in territories occupied by Russian forces.”
The bishops will also travel to Philadelphia to help cocelebrate an ordination Mass of three auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Shevchuk will also lead a solemn Prayer for Peace in Ukraine at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
The last leg of the bishops’ journey includes a stop in New York City, where they will pray together with the Ukrainian community at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church and attend a gratitude Mass sponsored by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
