Metropolitan Borys during his visit to the Odesa Exarchate: “Christians are called to be a community of love”

On the first day, Metropolitan Borys presided at the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called. During his homily, he conveyed, on behalf of Ukrainian Americans, American Catholics, and the majority of the American people—who understand what is happening and support Ukraine—deep respect and gratitude to the people of Odesa for their witness in the city and the country.

“In Ukraine, the line between good and evil is drawn clearly. Here, fundamental questions are being asked: who is the human person, what is the value of human life, what is God-given dignity and freedom, and what is our vocation,” he emphasized.

He reminded the faithful that for Christians, resurrection always follows death. “Death cries out; it lurks behind every alarm and every attack. But we know the end of this story. Death is not the end. The Lord awaits us at home, where there are many rooms.”

The Metropolitan also reflected on the essence of the Christian vocation: “Christian life is a free response to the Word of God, which calls each person and entire communities. Our first reaction should be: ‘Yes, Lord!’ We are called to follow Him freely, with the certainty that He will guide us.”

After the Liturgy, he visited neighborhoods of the city that had suffered from Russian attacks. Metropolitan Borys also visited the “Good Samaritan” Charitable Foundation at Odesa People’s Church, where he learned about its ministry to internally displaced persons, the poor, and those in need.

That same day, he visited the Odesa Fine Arts Museum, where he met with cadets of the Naval Lyceum and members of Odesa’s business community, the Marazli Club.

In his conversation with the business community, the Metropolitan spoke about the phenomenon of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), stressing the importance of moving forward and rejecting any sense of inferiority. “Encounter is the matrix of human life. The essence of UCU is the encounter of people and a place where the culture of love and mutual respect is nurtured,” he said. Recalling the history of the university’s founding, he emphasized that it was a slow and thoughtful process: “For two years we deliberately asked the question: what kind of university does Ukraine need? It was a time for reflection and experimentation.”

Speaking about the role of the Church in today’s society, Metropolitan Borys underscored that it must be a “Church in a backpack”—mobile and alive, moving together with the person, a place of encounter and communication.

The following day, Metropolitan Borys presided at the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord in Odesa, concelebrating with Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy and parish priests.

“I feel here with you in the Odesa Exarchate as if among the first Christians—these are small but active communities. How did the Church speak to the world at that time? Through mutual love. We are called in this world to be a community not of power, but of friendship and love. I encourage you to value the freshness of your communities, built around the Gospel, to rejoice in it and to make use of it. Take responsibility for the Gospel, for a life of love. Odesa is changing; our Church is now perceived in a very different way. But our influence depends on whether we will be a community of love and service. These are the criteria: do we love God, and do we love our neighbor,” the Metropolitan stressed.

He also recalled Fr. Roman Mirchuk, who once served in the Odesa Exarchate and made significant contributions to the Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Borys visited several social and spiritual centers of the Odesa Exarchate: the Church of the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the “House of Mercy” of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, the “Transfiguration of the Lord” Rehabilitation Center, and the “Lastivka Svitlytsia” tourist farm.

The visit concluded at the parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in the city of Pivdenne, where Metropolitan Borys, together with Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, met with parishioners, mothers, and widows of fallen soldiers, offering them words of support and gratitude for the sacrifice of their loved ones. The hierarchs emphasized that the Church will always remain close to its faithful, especially to those who have endured the greatest pain.