The Day of Resurrection in Pidhirtsi

The Day of Resurrection – the greatest feast of the year – was celebrated in the Pidhirtsi church very solemnly. The morning prayers began at 6 o’clock and were followed by the Divine Liturgy. Four bishops – Markian, Metod?j, Samuel and Eliáš celebrated the episcopal liturgy with the Easter ceremonies. Bishop Eliáš OSBM read out their pastoral letter. There was a really Easter atmosphere in the church also thanks to the choir and the multitude of believers.

For Easter Monday the second pastoral letter was prepared relating to the unity of the Eastern and Western Church with regard to the jubilee of the baptism of Rus-Ukraine.

Preparation of a drive for signatures

Those who would like to liquidate the internal revival of the UGCC are trying various methods how to attain their aims. For example it was announced that in the Kolomyja and the Ivano-Frankivsk dioceses they want to take action during which the priests will be forced to sign a declaration that they do not want the bishops from Pidhirtsi in the UGCC, and this declaration will then be given to the Pope. Even if some of the priests did sign, it would not be a free expression of will since that all would take place under psychological pressure.

All such actions are a manifestation of disobedience to the Holy Father; for one should wait for his decision.

Card. Husar’s antagonistic attitude towards episcopal consecrations

In his declaration of 23rd March 2008 against the bishops from Pidhirtsi Card. Husar quoted from the Eastern Canon Code in such a confused manner that many people thought that he excommunicated them.

In the book “Discussions with His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar – On Postconfessional Christianity” Card. Husar says: “I will be quite frank with You: I am over 70 and I have seen many bishops. I do not say that bishops who were elected by Rome are better than those who were not elected so or were elected in a different way. And if we trace the history we can see that bishops were elected in various ways. They were elected by Rome, they were elected by emperors, and there were also many others who elected them.” (pg. 59)

Some priests said with a smile: “What a pity that the bishops from Pidhirtsi have not yet been excommunicated like Card. Husar. He was, and later on became cardinal!”

(A contribution by the Pidhirtsi pilgrims)