Archbishop Borys: A priest is not a freelancer; he is the bishop's messenger

"May this festive moment, happening in a historic place where Patriarch Josyf Slipyj prayed and dreamed not only for the freedom of our Church but also for theological thought and the continuity of our millennial history, where we pray during a great war and at this moment, someone is giving their life for us, remind you that you are not alone," stressed Metropolitan Borys.

He shared memories of studying in Rome, praying in this cathedral, and communicating with Patriarch Josyf. “He would tell us, ‘Evil will not last forever. Prepare for change.’ And we were young enough to believe it,” recalled the Metropolitan, citing examples of miracles that have occurred in the life of the Church.

Addressing the newly ordained priests and deacons, he emphasized their role for the faithful and within the Church structure. “There is no greater joy for a bishop than a dedicated pastor who places the Lord and people first,” said the Metropolitan. “But there is no greater hardship for a bishop than a priest who fails to live according to the commandments, who falls apart. A priest is not a soloist or a freelancer; he is the bishop's messenger, empowered by Jesus for this mission.”