His Holiness

                                                                                           Benedict XVI

                                                                                           Città del Vaticano

                                         Basic principles of new formation

Your Holiness,

basic spiritual principle in the formation of the future priestly generation is the rule what is of first priority and what is continually emphasized. Failure of a number of priestly generations consists in the fact that as the first priority has been established academism and not salvation! One did not respect well-tried rule: “So far as necessary, nothing more and nothing less.” One has to accept information insofar as it serves one’s salvation. However, one has to refuse it insofar as it leads away from salvation.

First of all a candidate for priesthood must go through sound spiritual retreat where he will experience deep conversion, will renounce the spirit of the world and receive God’s Spirit. Thus he will become true Christ’s witness. Then it is necessary that he should be provided with several practical advices how to perform evangelization. Small group of future priests – missionaries – will pray several hours a day, open to God’s Word and to God’s Spirit who is its Author and Interpreter. He gives the power in which the missionary brings God’s Spirit to the souls and delivers them from the power of darkness – from the power of Satan (cf. Col 1:13; Acts 26:18). Then, after a year long practice, one should interpret God’s Word to converted Christians in the same Spirit and power as the Apostle Paul and other apostles. Only then one should obtain some basic information from sound theology which has the same Spirit and leads to one aim – salvation of immortal souls (eternal life). Therefore in priestly formation it is necessary always to bear in mind the rule: “So far as necessary nothing more and nothing less.”

Yours in Christ

Bishops of the UOGCC

+ Eliáš OSBMr

+ Samuel OSBMr

+ Markian OSBMr

+ Metod?j OSBMr

Lvov, 24th October 2010

Copies to:

-         Bishops of the Orthodox Churches in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia

Address: Synod of the UOGCC, 3 Sosnova St., Lvov - Bryukhovychi, 79491, Ukraine

www.uogcc.org.ua, www.community.org.ua; pidhirci.community@gmail.com