/ News / Autocephalous Orthodox Bishops Fully Support Papal Visit:

THE PAPAL VISIT TO UKRAINE     June 23-27, 2001

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Latest Headlines: • Pope Beatifies 28 Greek Catholics at Largest Byzantine Liturgy in History // 27.06.2001 (21:14) • Pope Sings for Sykhiv Youth Rally // 27.06.2001 (21:06) • GREETINGS OF HIS BEATITUDE CARDINAL LUBOMYR HUSAR TO HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DIVINE LITURGY // 27.06.2001 (20:36) • Greeting of his Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Youth Rally at Sykhiv // 26.06.2001 (21:15) • Holy Father Blesses Ukrainian Catholic University // 26.06.2001 (21:47) • Testimonies on Martyrs Now Available // 26.06.2001 (14:30) • Pope Encourages a Plurality of Traditions // 25.06.2001 (15:20) • Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Opens New Website // 25.06.2001 (15:02) • “I know Lviv, ask me, please” // 25.06.2001 (14:57) • Pope Praises Exemplary Relations Between Ukrainian Catholic Churches // 25.06.2001 (10:34) • Interreligious Meeting with Pope Discusses Freedom and Responsibility // 25.06.2001 (10:27) • Greetings of his Beatitude Cardinal Lubomyr Husar to his Holiness Pope John Paul II at the meeting with the Ukrainian Council of churches and religious organizations // 24.06.2001 (21:41) • Greetings of his Beatitude Cardinal Lubomyr Husar to his Holiness Pope John Paul II at dinner with the bishops // 24.06.2001 (21:37) • Pope Celebrates Ukrainian Mass with International Emphasis // 24.06.2001 (17:12) • Pope Encourages Ukrainian Leaders to Build a Civilization of Love // 23.06.2001 (22:01) • Pope Entrusts Ukrainian Trip to the Mother of God // 23.06.2001 (18:55) • Pope John Paul II in Ukraine: “I Come as a Brother” // 23.06.2001 (16:31) • Ukraine's Catholics Kiss Visiting Icon // 22.06.2001 (17:13) • Pope John Paul II will pray in Ukrainian at liturgies in Kyiv // 22.06.2001 (16:45) • Lviv's Nativity of the Mother of God parish awaits Pope // 22.06.2001 (16:36)				Autocephalous Orthodox Bishops Fully Support Papal Visit Metropolitan Stephan, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Archbishop of New York sent the following letter to RISU expressing his full support of the Pope's upcoming visit to Ukraine. Various Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Bishops in the West co-signed the statement. It is here quoted in its entirety. 11.06.2001 (10:57) // Religious Information Service of Ukraine    Sunday 10 June 2001   TO: R.I.S.U. and the Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of Ukraine   From: The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the United States of America   +Metropolitan Stephan, Primate   By God's Grace, Archbishop of New York   We the bishops, of the U.A.O.C. in the U.S.A. fully support the visit of His Holiness John Paul II, the Pope of Rome, to our Motherland, Ukraine.   Let this visit bring to all Ukrainians a sign of unity and better understanding of each other.   As bishops of our Ukrainian Church in the Diaspora, we pray that your Patriarch, His Holiness Lubomyr, will continue to strive for unity among us all.His address to the consistory of cardinals were true and most inspiring words. May our Orthodox faithful both in the Diaspora and in our Motherland, Ukraine support him, for we all have one common goal and that is to maintain a free and united Ukraine. This is first and most important.   In the Diaspora, we have always been welcomed by the Greek Catholic Church, and they have always been kind to us and have supported us and the Ukrainian cause when many of the other Orthodox Churches have not. This is a sign of being true Christians, to all people. The right of Pope John Paul II to visit his flock is without question, the right of a Primate, as indicated in the rite of consecration ("to tend the flock that is entrusted to you . . . "). Let no other bishop deny him his right, for if this is done, we then have lost all. We as Ukrainians must support each other and put a stop to outside hierarchy with the power to control our Motherland, since we now are a free country and have a choice.   Let what in the past had been taken from us never again be taken - our pride as Ukrainians. May the Holy Spirit fill each of our hearts with only love and understanding and may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bring upon our Motherland, Ukraine, peace, love and unity for all.   Glory To Ukraine! Glory!   + Metropolitan Stephan   Primate   Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the United States of America - Sobornopravna   + Archbishop Michael (Coadjutor to the Metropolitan)   + Bishop Danylo (Bishop of Maramaros)   + Metropolitan Alexis (Primate-Emeritus)   + Archbishop Mykola (Bishop of Berlin and Germany)   + Bishop Kallistos (Bishop of France, Spain and Italy)  Get the printable page

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