Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Visits Kyiv

The pastor of “The Church of Good Changes” in Mariupol, Gennady Mokhnenko, received the “Light of Justice” Award from Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia. The award ceremony was organized by the UCU Institute of Leadership and Management.

The award Committee chose a laureate from a group of individuals who demonstrated moral leadership in their activities. The award is designed to draw attention to the value leadership, the importance of moral principles in the promotion of examples of such leadership in Ukrainian society.

On December 4, Archbishop Borys Gudziak officiated at the Episcopal Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection with the Head of the Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

In his homily, the Metropolitan of Philadelphia noted that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is on a pilgrimage to Christmas: “The church calendar itself helps to understand from different perspectives the all-encompassing mystery of our salvation in the Son of God, who gave his life for us on the cross and overcame death with his death and opened the door to eternity. ”

On December 4, the 14th UCU Charitable Evening in the capital brought together Kyiv friends of the university and philanthropists, who together raised funds for talented students, teachers and university development. Honorary speakers of the evening were Ada Rohovtseva – Hero of Ukraine, Shevchenko Prize winner, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk – Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church andUCU Grand Chancellor, and Metropolitan Borys Gudziak – UCU President, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy. The theme of the evening was the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence.

On Sunday, December 5, the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ was presided by His Beatitude Sviatoslav. Archbishop Borys Gudziak concelebrated with the Head of the Church. At the end of the Liturgy, the Head of the Church thanked the Metropolitan of Philadelphia. He also greeted Metropolitan Borys and all the faithful of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia on the feast of the Philadelphia Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which will be celebrated next Sunday, December 12.

On Sunday, December 5, Borys Gudziak, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Philadelphia, celebrated Vespers in English at the Ecumenical Church of St. Michael the Archangel and the New Martyrs of Ukraine on Independence Square in Kyiv.

The Vespers was initiated by Daniel Galadza, a deacon of the Kyiv Archeparchy, a native of Canada, and Julian Hayda, a seminarian of the Saint Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago, who studies at the Kyiv Three Hierarchs Theological Seminary. The evening service was attended by about thirty faithful, including Ukrainian Greek Catholics from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as seminarians who study English.

On December 7th, the Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Borys Gudziak, as well as the Eparch of London, Kenneth Nowakowsky, visited the Kyiv Three Hierarchs Theological Seminary of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Kniazhychi, suburbs of Kyiv.

The bishops presided the service of the Vespers on the occasion of memory of the holy martyr Clement, Pope of Rome. They were assisted by the rector of the seminary: Fr. Peter Zhuk, prefect Fr. Innocent Voloshyn and the spiritual director, Fr. Mykola Semenyshyn.