Pidhirci 7th August 2004

Reverend Father Vasylij Kovbyč and Fathers of the General Council,

on 4th July 2004 we sent You a request in which we asked You to help us in our legal transition to another form of monastic life, so that we could be under a jurisdiction of a bishop. The previous General Superior had verbally threatened us before, that if we were to do this, they would abolish the Czech Delegature.

On 13th July 2004, the Delegature was abolished. In the Czech Republic, there are now 4 priests, 9 students and 2 novices. Four priests from the previous Delegature, who are abroad the Czech Republic, turned to the Congregation on 16th July 2004 with a request for a transition to a new form of monastic life. By the Decree № 004-2004 from 16th July 2004, You authorized the Superior of the Ukrainian Province and his Council to decide the case of the monks who were  members of the Delegature abolished.

Since we turned to the Congregation for Oriental Churches and are waiting for their answer, we ask You to let us transit in peace to another form of monastic life. With the request we also turned to several bishops. From them we got to know that the Provincial Superior had turned to them, too, giving them a negative picture about us.

In relation to the events which took place on Sunday 1st August 2004, fathers Roman Šelepko and Eliáš Dohnal were inflicted with canonical reproofs for disobedience. We appeal against these decrees, because acting of the Provincial Superior on Sunday 1st August 2004 was inconsistent with the CCEO and with moral principles, and was evidently aiming to prevent us from the realization of our request.

We ask You to allow us to stay in the Pidhirci monastery until our request is settled completely and until there are conditions created for our further living in another monastery.

Glory to Jesus Christ!