On the Birthday of His Beatitude Sviatoslav: “Never Be Ashamed to Be Human”

     On May 5, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, celebrated his birthday. The clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia extend their heartfelt greetings to His Beatitude and unite in prayer for his ministry.

     His Beatitude Sviatoslav often speaks with deep gratitude about the people who shaped his faith and vocation. A special role in his life was played by his grandparents, through whom he first encountered the living faith and traditions of the Church. “Through them I entered the life of the Church. They became for me a walking encyclopedia of the history of the Church and of our people.”

     From his grandfather he received words that became a guiding principle throughout his life: “Never be ashamed of being human.”

     Reflecting on his mother, His Beatitude once shared: “After all public events, I return to my room, stand before the face of God, and make an examination of conscience: I reconsider everything I said, everything that was voiced, and I reproach myself for certain mistakes, expressions, or perhaps foolish things said in public. This, so to speak, is a small part of my mother’s heart and soul.”

     Speaking about his father, he said: “He taught me to be a father, to love people, not to be afraid, to go towards them, and to build relationships.”

     In reflecting on the suffering caused by the war in Ukraine, His Beatitude has also said: “In such moments, words fall silent. With such people, one must share their pain, grieve together with them.”

Many blessed years!