30.05.2007, [09:17] // Speech, greeting, press release //
Kyiv – Because of the complicated political situation in Ukraine, Patriarch Lubomyr (Husar), head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), and Patriarch Filaret (Denysenko), head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP), have stressed the need for special prayers for the country. ugcc.org.ua and cerkva.info posted the news on 25 May 2007.
Analyzing the current political situation in Ukraine, the head of the UGCC said: “Maybe it is this way because we did not thank God for the happy moments. Maybe it is this way because we did not address him when the black clouds were approaching. But God is full of mercy and disregards our weakness and imperfection when we address him when we are anxious.”
Therefore, Patriarch Lubomyr calls all the faithful and people of good will to pray for Ukraine “for God’s mercy to save us and our state in the times of misery.” He added: “From the experience of past years we know how powerful our obedient prayer can be. Our Heavenly Father knows best how to rescue us with something that is beyond our imagination. Therefore, let us pray, dear in Christ. Let us pray together and alone… Each as he can and wants, but pray, pray, pray! Let us pray together with the holy Mother of God and all the saints of the Ukrainian land.”
According to cerkva.info, the head of the UOC-KP sent telegrams to all hierarchs of the UOC-KP with the request for stronger praying in Ukraine. He noted: “In connection with the latest dangerous events in the political life of our state, I bless the prayers for our homeland in all church buildings of the UOC-KP during Liturgies.”
Sources:
• http://cerkva.info/2007/05/25/patriarx.html