New Bishop of UGCC Ordained in Lviv

The hirotony of Benedict (Aleksiychuk) was conducted on September 5 in the Cathedral of St. Yur in Lviv at a liturgy in the presence of Patriarch Lubomyr, members of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the clergy and faithful. The bishop's ordination was administered by Archbishop Ihor (Vozniak) of Lviv. On September 4 the bishop was nominated.

"We are coming out of the past and looking into the future. Today's event is for us a cause of great joy. Our church lives. Her path from the past centuries was so difficult but it lives. The merciful Lord did not allow this church to cease to exist. And the evidence of this is the fact that we have become closer to God, that we have a new spiritual leader who by God's will allow this people to be led to God," noted the head of the church, Patriarch Lubomyr.

The new bishop comes from the Kostopil District of Rivne Region. The head of UGCC admitted that "the presence of Bishop Venedykt in the group of our bishops is a reminder to us all that our church is really growing and developing, that the situation of the church increasingly improves all over our blessed land."

In his address, the newly ordained bishop mentioned everyone who formed him as a person, monk, hegumen, and now bishop. He noted: "With a sense of responsibility I am standing today before my Ukrainian nation, church, and Synod of Bishops, by whose decision I am called to the bishop's ministry: "I am aware that such sainted hierarchs as Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom and many others were afraid of the title and responsibility of the bishop's ministry and sought to avoid it. What then can I, a young man, say, who have no sufficient experience for such ministry. If I now followed my human wishes and plans, I would ask for this cup to go past me. Beloved bishops, your trust brings great responsibility for me. I ask for your support and prayer for me to become worthy of such a great ministry which you are entrusting to me!"