On March 6-9, 2010, in Odessa, the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) met. According to Bishop Bohdan (Dzyurakh), Secretary of the Synod, the main tasks of the synod were to review the implementation of decisions of the Synod of Bishops of UGCC which took place in 2009, to prepare for the next Synod of 2010, and to consider important questions of church life. Besides, among the themes the synod planed to discuss was the question of migration, as this is the basic theme of the Synod of Bishops for 2010, and to prepare for the 5^th session of the Patriarchal Council on the theme "Consecrated life in the Church and for the Church," which will be conducted on September 3-12, 2011, in Brazil. So reported the Information Department of UGCC.

"In addition to that, other themes were examined; in particular, the progress of the strategic plan of evangelization of the Church. As is known, evangelization was the main theme for the last two synods of our Church (2008 and 2009, – author) and now the practical dimension of the realization of that project begins. A strategic plan of evangelization is being put together, which later will be accepted by the eparchies and exarchates in Ukraine and abroad," remarked Bishop Bohdan.

In order to learn about the needs of the UGCC in different parts of Ukraine and abroad, the Permanent Synod holds its meetings each time in a different eparchy or exarchate. "We want to look at the condition and prospects of development of exarchates in eastern and southern Ukraine, as these areas were subject to long and intense atheistic influence and presently evangelization in these parts is a special challenge not only for our Church, but also for others Christian churches," remarked Bishop Bohdan.

During their stay in Odessa, the members of Permanent Synod held a meeting with the clergy of the exarchate, laity, youth, and local authority.

The Permanent Synod is a group of bishops who work on behalf of the Patriarchal Synod and is an advisory body for the head of Church which helps him administrate the Church in between the synods.

Information Department of the UGCC

Background information:

The Permanent Synod consists of five persons: from the government is the head of the UGCC who is the head of the Permanent Synod. Three bishops, members of the Permanent Synod, are elected by the Patriarchal Synod, and one is appointed by the Major Archbishop. The members of this synod are elected for five years. In addition, deputies are elected in case someone from the members of Permanent Synod will not be able to take part in its work. During a year there are four meetings of the Permanent Synod, one of which is held immediately after the completion of the Patriarchal Synod.

The Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which took place in Philadelphia (USA) from September 27 to October 6, 2007, chose new members of the Permanent Synod of Bishops of the UGCC: Archbishop Ihor (Vozniak), Bishop Paulo (Khomnytskyi), Bishop Davyd (Motyuk), Bishop Vasyl (Semeniuk). Composition of deputies of the members of Permanent Synod of Bishops of UGCC: Bishop Vasyl (Ivasiuk), Bishop Yaroslav (Pririz), Bishop Volodymyr (Yuschak), Bishop Volodymyr (Kovbych).