His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Philadelphia: "Every Jubilee Year Pilgrimage is a Call to Return Home"

Concelebrating with him were Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Bishop Paul Chomnycky, Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk, Bishop Bohdan Danylo, and clergy from the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. The Liturgy was attended by Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, Chargée d'Affaires a.i., Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, members of community organizations, military personnel, and Ukrainians living in the United States.

In his homily, His Beatitude Sviatoslav spoke of his visit as both a witness to Ukraine’s suffering and a message of resilience:

“I have come to the U.S. as a witness to the immense pain and suffering of the Ukrainian people—the daily destruction and devastation—but also as a bearer of hope from Ukraine and for Ukraine.”

He emphasized that the source of this hope is faith:

“Millions of people around the world ask where our hope comes from. And today, we proclaim to the whole world: Ukraine stands, fights, and prays because it believes in God. More than that, we have hope because we believe our God is a Father.”

Calling himself a “pilgrim of hope,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his deep desire to embrace and bless the faithful. He urged them not to leave without receiving his blessing. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, he blessed Ukrainian soldiers undergoing medical treatment in the U.S. and all those gathered in prayer individually. For two hours after the liturgy His Beatitude remained in the cathedral to bless everyone who approached him.