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Head of UGCC and President-elect of Ukraine greeted each other

06.05.2019, 23:34
On Monday, May 6, 2019, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with Volodymyr Zelensky, President-elect of Ukraine at his residence at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.

On Monday, May 6, 2019, His Beatitude Sviatoslav met with Volodymyr Zelensky, President-elect of Ukraine at his residence at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.

Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated His Beatitude Sviatoslav on his birthday and said the words of respect to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for the constant and lasting spiritual support of all Ukrainians in these difficult times, the Department of Information of the UGCC reports.

Thus, the Head of the UGCC congratulated Mr. Zelensky on his election to the presidential office, and the great confidence expressed by the Ukrainian people. His Beatitude assured him of the openness of the UGCC to cooperate on a partnership basis for the good of the Ukrainian people and our state.

During the meeting a number of important issues for the future of independent Ukraine and the role of the UGCC in these processes were discussed, including the important mission of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations in preserving religious peace, the public initiative “National Forum” Transformation of Ukraine aimed to fulfil the deep desire of our people to build a European Ukraine, a full member of the EU.

Separately, His Beatitude Sviatoslav mentioned the importance of the World Congress of Ukrainians and the large Ukrainian diaspora in the matter of support of our state on the world stage, as well as the need for an appropriate response to the challenges of the hybrid war which the aggressor country is leading against Ukraine through propaganda and misinformation.

The Head of the UGCC mentioned the problem of the mass emigration of young people from Ukraine and the role of the Church not only to provide proper pastoral care to migrants, but also to take care of their relationship with the motherland. “Our concern is, in particular, the youth who leave the country in search of high-quality European education. Therefore, we want to invite you to Lviv, to the Ukrainian Catholic University, which is a modern European Christian and academic platform for young Ukrainians,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

In particular, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the hierarch for the service that the UGCC carries out in the occupied territories of Donbas and in the annexed Crimea, thus maintaining the connection with these citizens of Ukraine and giving them proper care. He also expressed his gratitude for greetings, valuable thoughts and openness to cooperation.

In parting, the Head of the Church offered to his guest a book on the history of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the icon of the twelve largest church holidays as gifts. As reported, Zelensky has already met with the hierarchs of the OCU and the UOC-MP, Muslim spiritual leaders and the Hasidim rabbis.