Patriarch Sviatoslav Consecrates Religious Minister for Moldova

On 4 November, in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Christ’s Resurrection, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Patriarch Sviatoslav, consecrated six deacons, including one, Ihor Lepskyi, for serving in Moldova, the Catholic Observer reported.

The ceremony was attended by the Roman Catholic Bishop Antoni Kosza who provides pastoral care for all the Catholics in Moldova.

“He has arrived to receive another minister for Greek Catholics in Moldova during the liturgy,” commented the head of UGCC on the bishop’s presence.

According to the Primate, the fact that new deacons were ordained is a joy first of all for the Kyiv Archeparchy. “Thank you for leaving the well-kept Galician parishes and coming to serve here, in the central and eastern Ukraine. Thank your wives who followed you,” the Primate addressed the newly ordained deacons and their relatives.

Bishop Antoni addressed Patriarch Sviatoslav to thank him: “Our faithful Greek Catholics are truly grateful to you and we invite you to visit our flock as soon as possible and ordain Deacon Ihor Presbyter. In the future we wish to support and develop the Catholic faith in the Moldovian land. We want as many priests there as possible and so your patronage is very necessary. Therefore, we ask you to stay with us and help us in our needs.”