Pastoral letter to priests of the Ivano-Frankivsk region

Dear brothers in the priestly ministry,

God has called both You and us to preach Christ’s Gospel, for salvation is only in Jesus Christ, and to defend God’s laws, especially in the field of faith and morals.

The mass media have informed the Ukrainian public about a gay-pride which is going to take place on Good Friday with the assistance of specially-trained groups from abroad. We quote: “A gay-pride is going to take place in Ivano-Frankivsk in April. The organizers expect not only participation of representatives of the “Prykarpatya” region but also guests from other parts of Ukraine and even from abroad.” The event is planned for 2nd April 2010.

(http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/1043406, http://www.zik.com.ua/ua/news/2010/02/04/215296/)

This prepared blasphemous action on Good Friday is to deal a deep blow to Christianity on our territory and open the Ukrainian nation for unclean spirits and a curse. Its aim is the decay of society and invasion of Ukraine by the spirit of antichrist.

Both we and You, dear priests, must not allow this spiritual and moral crime against our nation.

The organizers of this event are well aware that the greatest moral power standing against them in the western Ukraine is the UGCC. However, both they and You know that Head of the UGCC, ex-Card. Husar, will not be in protest against this event and will not want the priests of the UGCC to protest against it either. The ex-bishops of the UGCC know it too and so they keep “obediently” or cowardly silent.

In this situation every one of You must make a choice – either Christ or Husar! The priest who will not stand actively in defence of God’s laws in this Holy Lenten period and will allow owing to his passivity the door to be opened to a moral epidemic, the one has denied the faith, renounced Christ and become an apostate.

Therefore on behalf of Christ we, Bishops of the Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church, oblige You in conscience before God to publicly condemn homosexuality in Your homilies as a mortal sin and abomination in the sight of God. We hereby call You to encourage Your believers to pray with perseverance the so-called ‘holy hour’ together at home from 8 to 9 pm, and those who are zealous can pray one more hour during the day at a time which suits them most. These prayers would continue until the Resurrection (4th April 2010).

Moreover, we ask You to see to it that each parish or whole deaneries should organize a manifestation in support of the family and thus prevent the breakthrough gay-pride which is to bring the homosexual infection into all the Ukraine. Manifestation with placards requires that one person from the parish should inform by a registered letter the City Council of Ivano-Frankivsk a week before about the planned manifestation with the aim of stopping the gay-pride. The letter will set the date, hour and place. A copy of the letter will be sent to the city police. At the close of the letter the person concerned will write down his full address and telephone number. If he receives no reply, the announcement is taken into account. On the day of manifestation it is necessary to take along a copy of the letter with the postal receipt, in order that the manifestation may start legally. This prayer manifestation in front of the Regional Council may be accompanied by religious songs.

We also appeal for a mass demonstration of the believers of the whole Ivano-Frankivsk region in front of the Regional Council on Palm Sunday (28th March 2010) at 3 pm. The procession would march through the centre of Ivano-Frankivsk up to the theatre.

Besides, in the name of Jesus Christ we oblige You, all priests, to renounce the heresies of ex-Card. Husar and to confess the true faith in Christ in private before the tabernacle. At the same time, renounce false sympathies with pagan religions which destroy the foundations of Christianity and eventually lead man to open up to homosexuality (see Rom 1:26-28).

We hereby call upon all the faithful of the Ivano-Frankivsk region to notify us of the names of those priests who will approve homosexuality by their silence and will not appeal for prayers and manifestations. Such priests will have publicly betrayed Christ and the Gospel and fallen under an anathema by reason of unity with heresies (cf. Gal 1:8-9). The names of these priests will be announced publicly and as from 28th March 2010 (i.e. Palm Sunday), as apostates they will no longer celebrate the Divine Liturgy and administer the sacraments (with the exception of Baptism) validly. Supposing they persist in the state of apostasy and obstinacy to the end of their life, they will be eternally condemned.

Dear priests, the time has come when every one of You must choose whom he wants to belong to and serve. Whether Christ or antichrist. The time has come when the service to Christ will bring no honour, money or recognition but rather persecution, hatred and condemnation on the part of those who reject Christ or have betrayed Him!

May the Holy Spirit give You the strength, the light and the courage not only to believe in Christ but even to suffer for His sake.

In Christ,

        Your orthodox Catholic bishops

                         + Eliáš OSBMr, + Markian OSBMr, + Samuel OSBMr, + Metod?j OSBMr

                                                                                                                          Lvov, 15th February 2010 A.D.

Copies to:

-          The Holy Father Benedict XVI

-          Patriarchs and Bishops of the Orthodox Churches

-          President of Ukraine

-          MPs of Ukraine and deputies of the Ivano-Frankivsk region