An appeal to women religious

Dear sisters,

You who were to be the brides of Christ and abandoned the world, that especially through prayer, adoration and contemplation of Christ You may unite with Him and thus become atoning sacrifices for the souls, were often in Your monasteries slowly and inconspicuously robbed of Your first love for Jesus. Because the first place was not given to repentance, prayer and the following of the abandoned and humble Christ, this was gradually replaced by the spirit of lukewarmness and incapability of radical and pure love to our Lord and His Gospel. Through various conferences, courses and emphasis on openness to the world the spiritual life was substituted by lifeless psychologies and philosophies. We ask You: How do You imagine the reform of Your religious institute and how the reform of Your own life? Where would You be if God called You today? Would You stand at the right or at the left hand of Christ? He, the Judge, will demand that You render an account for Your life. Pleading obedience to the Superior does not always justify; it is always true: “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

We announce to You that our orthodox Catholic Synod has established a new Church structure for the faithful of the UGCC under the name of the Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church – abbreviated to UOGCC. Sincere and brave sisters who desire a true reform and following of Christ, but within the religious institute which is incorporated into the heretical system do not have such an opportunity, should come out from their institute, rent a house and there start a reform. Do not worry about material security; God will care for You. We will gladly accept the reformed religious institutes under our jurisdiction.

In Christ,

Bishops of the UOGCC

+ Markian OSBM

+ Samuel OSBM

+ Metod?j OSBM

+ Eliáš OSBM

                                                                                                                      Lvov-Bryukhovychi, 15th August 2009