UGCC Head issues decree convening 7th session of Patriarchal Council to form Church strategy for next 10 years

Patriarch Sviatoslav has issued a Decree convening the 7th session of the Patriarchal (All-Church) Council of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on “Emigration, settlement and global unity of the UGCC,” which will take place on August 26-29, 2020 in Lviv. It is reported by the Department of Information of the UGCC.

According to His Beatitude Svyatoslav, the Patriarchal Council is yet another instrument that will help formulate the strategy of the UGCC for the next decade.

Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, representatives of the clergy and institutions of consecrated life, rectors of theological seminary, laity of the dioceses and exarchates from Ukraine and abroad - everyone who, in accordance with the ecclesiastical law, have an urgent obligation to participate therein, have been invited, says the Decree.

As His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted, when the strategy for the development of the Church was formed, no one else knew what to expect in the future. “We did not imagine that war will begin in Ukraine. We did not expect to perform pastoral ministry in the conditions of hostilities, and that not only our parishes will be the place of meeting with the living Christ, but also the Kyiv Maidan. I dream that together with you, in particular in the context of this Council, we will hear the living God whom we seek to meet. He is Lord of history, He who helps us to correct our strategy today,” he said.

The head of the UGCC by a separate decree has appointed Dr. Roman Shafran, Head of the Ordinary Tribunal of the Supreme Archbishop, as Secretary of the Council.

6th session of the Patriarchal Council of the UGCC themed “Vibrant Parish - a place to meet with living Christ” was held in Ivano-Frankivsk. Then, about 200 delegates from different dioceses of the UGCC of Ukraine and the world took part in the Council.

Background

The Patriarchal Council is an advisory assembly of the entire Church presided over by the Patriarch. The council assists the Patriarch and the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church in resolving important issues (cf. The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Canon 140).