An appeal to priests

Dear ministers of the altar and shepherds of God’s people,

we announce to You that on 11th August 2009 the orthodox Catholic Bishops’ Synod of the UGCC declared the establishment of an orthodox Church structure under the name of the Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church – abbreviated to UOGCC. We were forced to establish this structure as the bishops of the UGCC headed by Card. L. Husar stubbornly persist in heresies whereby they incur God’s punishment of anathema and thus excommunication from the Church. However, none of You, priests and believers, had until this time no other alternative administratively but to remain under this heretical structure. By establishment of the UOGCC You are given the opportunity to separate from the heretical administration and to transfer under the spiritual rule of the orthodox Catholic Synod. But we have to point out that this is not only an opportunity but at the same time a duty and responsibility before God for the entrusted souls. These days are historic for the faithful of our Church and also for all Ukraine. Our spiritual programme is a true renewal of the individual, family, society and whole parish. This is not possible without the orthodox Catholic teaching, without the spirit of repentance, without an emphasis on the life of prayer, without the following of Christ and without the living faith in the fundamental Christian truths which are related to our eternal life and the denial of which leads to eternal condemnation. The heresies which are coming from the West and which are systematically being embodied by the heretical structure will sooner or later penetrate into the very last parish in Ukraine. We announce that we have transmitted through official channels an application for registration of the UOGCC in accordance with the Ukrainian laws to the President of Ukraine. According to law this registration must be granted. We ask above all the zealous priests to set an example and to declare support for our Synod along with their faithful. Do not fear persecutions which can arise at the beginning. Nowadays it is necessary that there are at least several heroic priests who really have at heart salvation of the immortal souls, love for Christ and sincere love for the Ukrainian nation. In this moment the result depends on each of You. We can perceive pressures exerted upon You and Your families. Nonetheless, do make a step of faith, trust the Lord like the righteous Abraham through whose faith God gave a blessing to his whole generation. Your priestly vocation obliges You before God to provide the faithful with healthy spiritual food and, on the pattern of the Good Shepherd, to protect them against heresies. Your brave step will become a historic step towards the awakening of the Church not only in Ukraine but in the whole world. Be in truth God’s leaven and light in this time of darkness.

Praying for You and bestowing upon You our blessing,

Bishops of the UOGCC

+ Markian OSBM

+ Metod?j OSBM

+ Samuel OSBM

+ Eliáš OSBM

                                                                                                                      Lvov-Bryukhovychi, 15th August 2009

Address: Synod of the UOGCC, 3 Sosnova St., 79491 Lvov – Bryukhovychi, Ukraine

www.community.org.ua; pidhirci.community@gmail.com