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New Year Address of the Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

28.12.2009, 12:51
New Year Address of the Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - фото 1
The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate summarize the activity of the church for the year 2009.

the participants of the annual thanksgiving prayer service at the monument of the Baptizer of Rus Prince Volodymyr  

The address of the Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.


Girka.gifDecember 26, 2009

  1. The year 2009 of the Nativity of Christ and which marks the 1021st anniversary of the Baptism of Rus remains in our memory through its events, achievements, jubilees, and manifestations of the God's mercy to His Holy Church, the Ukrainian nation, and our God-loving nation. Among the things that should remain in the history of our Church, state and people, are the following:
  2. At the beginning of 2009, after the repose of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was held, taking part in which were the hierarchs, clergymen, and laity of all the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.      
  3. The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church confirmed the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In accordance with the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, "The Ukrainian Orthodox Church shall be self-governing with the broad right of autonomy. In its life and activity it shall be guided by the Tomos of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia of 1990 and by the Statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church confirmed by its primate and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia" (article VIII, paragraph 18). 
  4. In summer of 2009 the first visit to Ukraine of the newly elected Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia took place.   
  5. In 2009 the primate of the autonomous Orthodox Church of Finland Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland made a visit to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
  6. In 2009 the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church convened in four sessions, in the course of which the issues of the internal and external life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  
  7. The Church added two new bishops.
  8. In 2009 the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox glorified among the saints 13 locally venerated God-pleasers:
  9. Also, the Holy Synod of the UOC established the commemoration of the Venerable Martyrs of Zverynets and the Holy Martyr Prince John of Putivl.
  10. In 2009 the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine made 37 archpastoral visits to 23 dioceses of the UOC.  
  11. In 2009 the Most Reverend Hierarchs of the UOC consecrated 224 churches (among these Metropolitan Volodymyr consecrated 35 altars and churches). During the year 149 new churches were founded in the UOC.    
  12. In 2009 the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed pilgrimage trips of our compatriots to the shrines of the Holy Land, the Holy Mount Athos, the shrines of Greece, Italy (the relics of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker in Bari and the Holy Hierarch Ambrose of Milan), and Russia.    
  13. In 2009 of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrated 450 years of the brining to Volyn of the Miracle-Working Icon of the Mother of God.  
  14. In 2009 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrated the 300th anniversary of repose of the Holy Hierarch Dimitry of Rostov.  
  15. In 2009 at the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece the honorable hand of the holy Hierarch Spyridon of Tremithous visited Ukraine.  The shrine was brought to Ukraine by its keeper Metropolitan Nectarios of Kerkira, Paxoi, and Diapontioi Nisoi. The All-Ukraine sacred procession with the relics was conducted.    
  16. In 2009 our Church celebrated the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the Kyiv Theological Seminary.  
  17. In 2009, at the blessing of the UOC primate, the International and All-Ukraine Festivals, conferences, and readings were conducted.  The most prominent of them were the ІХ International Holy Dormition Readings, the ІІ Holy Intercession International Educational Readings, the VІІ International Festival of Orthodox Cinema and Mass Media "Pokrov," the 1st International Festival of the Orthodox Mass Media, and the International Scientific Workshop Conference "Gogol as a prophet of words" (dedicated to the 200th birthday anniversary the writer).  
  18. In 2009 under the auspices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church together with the National Musical Academy of Ukraine the "Easter Choir Academy" was conducted.  
  19. In 2009 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took part in the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from German fascist invaders.
  20. In 2009 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church developed its own and joint informational projects (the best example is the religious-educational TV channel "Glas"), carried out enlightenment and social activities, promoting the projects created in previous years, and starting new ones in the informational and educational domains.
  21. In 2009 the development of the design and estimate documentation and collection of approvals, necessary for the beginning of the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral of the UOC and its Spiritual Educational Center was almost complete.  
  22. In 2009 the relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with all the branches of the state authority developed dynamically.  Despite of the political and economical crisis, the discrepancies between the church and state regarding issues of restitution of church property, teaching of religious subjects in schools and institutes, the ways of reunifying Ukrainian Orthodoxy, and so on, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gives a positive estimate of the level of the church-state relations and extends gratitude to the state for the measures aimed at enhancing the public moral and for solving the questions the church. Among the most important include:
  • Ban of the gambling business in Ukraine;
  • Establishment of the commemoration date of Prince Volodymyr as a state holiday – the day of Baptism of the Kyivan Rus;
  • Passing of the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Holy Dormition Kyiv Cave Monastery to permanent use of the Church;
  • Setting up gas tariffs for the parishes equal to those for population;
  • The decision on passing church land from lease into permanent use of the religious communities.

 

It is with hope for God and His mercy that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church meets the coming year 2010 of the Nativity of Christ. The Church prays for peace and concord in the state and the society, for the authorities and the God-loving people.

On the eve of the elections of the president of Ukraine the Church prays that God grants us a worthy state, which will take care of its people, promote unity of the people of Ukraine, and assert high moral values in the society. 

In 2010 we are looking forward to take part in and celebrate prominent events and anniversaries, including:

  • 20th anniversary of the Tomos of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia who granted independence and self-governance to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
  • The second visit to Ukraine of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.   
  • 75th anniversary of the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
  • The arrival to Ukraine of the Kursk "Root" Icon of the Mother of God and of the relics of the Holy Hierarch Demetrius of Thessalonika.
  • Continuation of the sacred procession with the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God.
  • The beginning of the construction of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We call the clergy and laity to actively prayer and financially support this church activity for the glory of God and His Holy Church.