5 June 2017, 14:30 | Religious ceremonies and pilgrimage | |  | 0 |   | Code for Blog |  | 

 The Divine Liturgy and the burial rite of blessed memory Lubomyr (Husar) was held in the Resurrection Cathedral of the UGCC in Kyiv. The hierarchs of the UGCC participated in the service led by Patriarch Sviatoslav Archbishop Cyril (Basil), personal envoy of Pope Francis, Apostolic Nuncio Claudio Gugerotti, Secretary of the Congregation for Eastern Churches.

Clergymen (about 600 priests), monastics and faithful from all over Ukraine and abroad came to pay the last tribute to His Beatitude Lubomyr. Many public figures, government officials and politicians came on this day to honor the former head of the UGCC at the Patriarchal Cathedral. The latter represented different political forces.

The coffin with the body was placed in the middle of the cathedral. After the service people came to pay last tribute to His Beatitude Lubomyr. Many of them wept. In the farewell speech the priests remembered His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar) with warmth and love. The speech by Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) sounded especially moving.

Speaking about Lubomyr (Husar), the Patriarch of the UGCC, in particular, called him a “Kobzar” of new Ukraine and the “soul of every Ukrainian.”

“The unique way of Lubomyr’s holiness we see that the power of God manifested itself in his weakness, when he lost his physical sight, his spiritual eyes opened even wider. Wherever he came in, everybody raised. Certain types of sanctity of our Lubomir were sung by Taras,” said the hierarch reminding all those present about a well-known poem by Shevchenko titled “Perebendya.”

“And the Kobza that Lubomyr played - is the soul of each of us, every Ukrainian, regardless of religion, denomination, location and language. With his velvety baritone he could touch such keys of our hearts that even in Luhansk, Donetsk, Simferopol, in Ukraine or abroad the hearts were moved,” he said.

According to the Head of the UGCC, Lubomyr (Husar) has left us as a legacy the foundation of modern Ukrainian Christian civilization, which "we have to develop, live and build there our independent and free Ukraine.”

His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar) found his final rest in the crypt of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection. This place is always open, and the faithful will be always capable to visit their pastor and pray with him. Patriarch Sviatoslav called Greek Catholics not to forget His Beatitude in the future and visit the crypt as often as possible.

“Each of you in moments of doubt, needs should be able to come and pray with Lubomyr. Let's give a word never leave Lubomyr alone in the crypt,” said the first hierarch during yesterday's sermon.

During the memorial service some faithful were holding banner with a slogan Subito Santo (Sainthood Now!).

His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar) passed away on May 31, 2017, at 18:30, 84 years of age, after a serious illness.

On June 1, the coffin with his body was brought to St George Cathedral in Lviv. The temple was open during this time. People had to stand in long queues for several hours to bid farewell to His Beatitude. A big screen was installed for the faithful in the square outside St George’s Cathedral, which showed a film about Lubomyr (Husar), an interview with him.

On June 3, in Lviv, during the Liturgy Patriarch Sviatoslav declared His Beatitude Lubomyr “a public worshiper for peace in Ukraine.” Subsequently, there a mourning procession followed along the city streets.

Thousands of Lviv residents accompanied the coffin with the body of Lubomyr (Husar) from the Cathedral of St. George to the Church of St Michael the Archangel. The Patriarch compared the last pilgrimage of Lubomyr across the streets of Lviv with the funeral of the righteous Andrey Sheptytsky.

On Sunday, June 4, the procession with the body of Patriarch Lubomyr arrived to the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kyiv.

After the coffin was placed in the church, thousands of Kyiv residents were able to bid farewell to His Beatitude – the cathedral doors weren’t locked either in day or night time, and prayer vigils were read at the coffin.