On Sunday 24th May 2009 a minibus going to the Basilian pilgrimage place in Krekhiv (Ukraine) had a serious car accident in which 7 people were killed and the great majority of the rest of the passengers were severely injured.

Bishops of the orthodox Catholic Synod hereby offer their sympathies to all afflicted families in their suffering. We believe that those who died are or soon will be in God’s arms. We pray for them as well as for their families. May the pain of the grieved families and the intercession of innocent victims obtain a grace for the spiritual awakening of our UGCC through genuine repentance and conversion!

We are asking: What does God want to say by this to our Church? On two previous Sundays the Basilians and Church hierarchy which is under an anathema waged a mendacious and dishonest campaign against us. We point out the essence of salvation which is in true conversion and in true following of Christ. Our aim is the spiritual resurrection of our UGCC and of Ukraine. Unfortunately those who are defaming us consider neither conversion nor eternal salvation to be important!

+ Markian OSBM

Secretary of the orthodox Catholic Synod of the UGCC