14.04, [20:53] // Press-releases //
On Saturday April 12, 2008, in the Church of Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God of Luts'k, which has now become a cathedral, during a pontifical Divine Liturgy the enthronement (introduction on the see) of the Rev. Bishop Josaphat (Hovera), Exarch of Luts'k, was held. The episcopal ordination of Bishop Josaphat was carried out on April 7, 2008, in Ternopil'.
To participate in the enthronement the following came to Luts'k: His Beatitude Lubomyr, Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, the Most. Rev. Ihor (Voznyak), Archbishop of Lviv, bishops of the UGCC from Ukraine , priests and laity. Bishop Markiyan Trofymyak, ordinary of the Luts'k Diocese of the RCC in Ukraine, took part in the Liturgy. Also present was Bishop Mikhail (Zinkevych) of Luts'k and Volyn' of the UOC-KP.
The enthronement on the see began with the solemn proclamation of the decree about the creation of the Exarchate of Luts'k and the decree on the appointment of the exarch. Then His Beatitude Lubomyr handed the newly-appointed exarch a hand cross and rod – symbols of his episcopal authority.
In a sermon during the Liturgy, His Beatitude Lubomyr turned the attention of those present to the fact that the creation of a new exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church on these territories is directed at the revival and growth of the spiritual and national consciousness of Greek-Catholics who live on this territory. “I want to declare solemnly here, and he who has ears to listen let him listen, that the UGCC in Volyn', or all over Ukraine, does not have the desire to convert somebody by force,” said the preacher.
After the Liturgy Bishop Josaphat talked. He invited the clergy and laity of the Exarchate of Luts'k to cooperate and in particular said: “Today something new is not starting here, but this process which numerous predecessors started is continuing.”
After the Liturgy the priests of the Exarchate of Luts'k came to Bishop Josaphat and asked his blessing, kissed his hand, and pledged their obedience to him.Information Department of the UGCC
