BRAMA, Jul 17, 2003, 9:00 am ET
Press Release
Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Bishops Meet in "Fraternal Encounter"
"O Lord, You commanded that all be accomplished for Your glory! Grant to Your servants the Bishops gathered here today success in the work they have begun for Your Glory…" [from the Ektenia imploring the assistance of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of every good work]
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Responding to the challenges and needs of the people of God - Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox in this 21st Century - the hierarchs of Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches in North America - Metropolitans, Archbishops and Bishops - were hosted by His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine and Archbishops Antony and Vsevolod in a "Fraternal Encounter" on 11 July 2003 at Saint Andrew the First-called Apostle Ukrainian Orthodox Center, South Bound Brook, New Jersey. The hierarchs had for some time been discussing the possibility and necessity of such a meeting as a means by which they could come to know one another on more than simply a social level. Such an encounter with open discussion of ecclesiastical and community issues would most certainly prove to be beneficial for the faithful entrusted to the hierarchs spiritual care in Christ's Name.
Occurring on the eve and feast of the Holy and All-laudable Apostles Peter and Paul [Julian Calendar] the Fraternal Encounter witnessed to the blessings of which, David speaks in Psalm 133: "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together…" The hierarchs did not gather to form any type of "council" or "conference" but rather, in the realization that a fraternity of brethren vested in the Grace of priestly and episcopal service and laboring for the good estate of the holy Eparchies which they steward in North America. This is most certainly a visible sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit, Who guides and perfects all things and is everywhere present.
Participating in the one day session were: His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine, Central Eparchy and Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; His Excellency Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia; His Eminence Archbishop Jurij, Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Antony, Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; His Excellency Bishop Basil Losten, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, CT; His Eminence Archbishop Vsevolod, Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA; His Excellency Bishop Robert Moskal, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat, Parma, OH; His Excellency Severian Yakymyshyn, OSBM, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster, British Columbia, Yukon and NWT Canada; His Excellency Cornelious Pasichny, OSBM, Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Toronto and Eastern Canada; and His Excellency Bishop Robert Seminiak, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Nicholas, Chicago, IL. Other hierarchs of both churches were unable to attend this initial meeting because of schedule conflicts or matters of health, all of whom expressed their support for such a meeting and regrets about not being able to attend.
The encounter began with a Moleben Service invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, celebrated in Saint Andrew Memorial Church, following which the Bishops retired to the historic Heindrich Fisher Residence to begin their discussions. Reflected upon at great length at this first Fraternal Encounter of the Catholic and Orthodox Hierarchs were issues common to both Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholics whose parish communities and eparchies took root, and have grown and developed in the North American vineyard as far back as the late 1800's.
Addressed in broad terms were relationships with Ukrainian communities and organizations in North America and Ukraine, the challenges presented by an on-going process of secularization in society, and the Church's role as the principal teacher and repository of faith and morality, as the promoter and guardian of the sanctity of life. The bishops also discussed the possibility of holding various joint educational and spiritual conferences for the benefit of hierarchs, clergy, seminarians and faithful of both faiths, along with the need to reach out to the new wave of immigrants from Ukraine. There was a solid agreement that in spite of the fact that there do exist some theological and dogmatic issues, which divide the two churches - hopefully, by God's Grace, not forever - there is the real possibility that the relationship between the two churches on all levels can improve - all for the benefit of the Kingdom of God and in Christ's Name. The bishops expressed the realization that they are descended from the same spiritual giants of early Ukrainian ecclesiastical history and that it is possible to bear witness to God in many common ways.
Having shared matters of mutual concern and strengthened the bond of fraternal love and respect through prayer and candid discussion, the hierarchs agreed that such Fraternal Encounters should continue and set the date for the next one in early 2004. At the conclusion of the sessions, the hierarchs visited Holy Resurrection Mausoleum and the crypt of His Holiness Patriarch Mstyslav, Saint Andrew Cemetery, the Ukrainian Cultural Center and Museum, St. Sophia Seminary/UOC Library, Bookstore and the Consistory.
UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
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