Kiev, Ukraine - March 19, 2007 - ugcc.org.ua - For 24 days, from February 16 to March 11, 2007, His Beatitude Lubomyr, Major Archbishop of Kyiv and Halych, was on a pastoral visit in the US, Argentina and Brazil. In each country he met with many UGCC faithful, and that was a source of great joy for them. What do such meetings give to the h ead of the UGCC personally?

Myroslava Rozdols'ka, head of the Public Relations Department of the UGCC Department of Information, asked His Beatitude this question when he was in the US. His Beatitude explained that there are two elements in it: ecclesiastical and personal. “I consider that one of my main tasks is to make spiritual unity. Therefore, I bring people greetings from Ukraine and emphasize that they are for me a part of the Church which I head. That means they are no less dear to me than UGCC faithful in Ukraine, even if they are of a different origin. I address these people in English, but I want them to feel that they are our community,” commented His Beatitude on the ecclesiastical element.

As for the second one, His Beatitude stated: “Here in Florida, there may be a personal element as well. I met many people from my generation, people of my age, whom I have known since the time I lived in the US. I came here 25 years ago on the commission of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj for issues connected with the St. Sophia Society. Now I came with my mission as the head of our Church.”

UGCC Department of Information