Patriarch Serves in London - 08/06/11 05:44 PM
PATRIARCH SVIATOSLAV SERVES IN LONDON
For about six years, Bishop Hlib has been Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Exarchate in England. Recently, on the recommendation of the Holy Synod of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Hierarchs, Pope Benedict XVI, elevated Bishop Hlib to the rank of full Apostolic Exarch in Britain. On Tuesday, 2 August, the feast of the Holy Prophet Elias, His Beatitude Patriarch of Kyiv-Halych And All Rus, enthroned Bishop Hlib and served Pontifical Divine Liturgy, with the concelebration of Bishop Hlib, Bishop Michael of Paris, Bishop Peter of Munich, the Papal Nuncio, and some half-dozen Roman Catholic bishops, and about eight Priests, including Father Taras Lonchyna (Bishop Hlib’s brother, who had come from the USA) and Father Archimandrite Serge of Dublin, representing the Greek-Catholics in Ireland. As a pledge of obedience, each Greek-Catholic priest approached Bishop Hlib for an individual blessing. Since it was a working day, the cathedral was rather more than 2/3 filled with the faithful.
The Patriarch serves with great beauty and magnificence, and strict accordance with the liturgical tradition. For those who can remember the troubled years at the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic cathedral in London, the Patriarchal Liturgy seemed like a miracle. The choir sang wonderfully. The hierarchs and clergy all commemorated the Patriarch, and while nobody actually grinned at these commemorations, the eyes of hierarchs and clergy were twinkling.
Surprisingly, the Patriarch, hierarchs and clergy used considerable English in the Divine Liturgy, perhaps for the benefit of the Latin hierarchs who were present.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy the Patriarch distributed the Antidoron and the choir sang the “Hymn for the Patriarch”; the clergy joined in happily. The Nuncio spoke briefly, offering congratulations and good wishes, both to the Patriarch and to Bishop Hlib.
After the service and time to unvest, there was a reception and buffet luncheon in the cathedral hall.
Some of the out-of town guests stayed the night. On the Wednesday Bishop Hlib brought the Patriarch to visit several parishes in England.
For about six years, Bishop Hlib has been Apostolic Administrator of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Exarchate in England. Recently, on the recommendation of the Holy Synod of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Hierarchs, Pope Benedict XVI, elevated Bishop Hlib to the rank of full Apostolic Exarch in Britain. On Tuesday, 2 August, the feast of the Holy Prophet Elias, His Beatitude Patriarch of Kyiv-Halych And All Rus, enthroned Bishop Hlib and served Pontifical Divine Liturgy, with the concelebration of Bishop Hlib, Bishop Michael of Paris, Bishop Peter of Munich, the Papal Nuncio, and some half-dozen Roman Catholic bishops, and about eight Priests, including Father Taras Lonchyna (Bishop Hlib’s brother, who had come from the USA) and Father Archimandrite Serge of Dublin, representing the Greek-Catholics in Ireland. As a pledge of obedience, each Greek-Catholic priest approached Bishop Hlib for an individual blessing. Since it was a working day, the cathedral was rather more than 2/3 filled with the faithful.
The Patriarch serves with great beauty and magnificence, and strict accordance with the liturgical tradition. For those who can remember the troubled years at the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic cathedral in London, the Patriarchal Liturgy seemed like a miracle. The choir sang wonderfully. The hierarchs and clergy all commemorated the Patriarch, and while nobody actually grinned at these commemorations, the eyes of hierarchs and clergy were twinkling.
Surprisingly, the Patriarch, hierarchs and clergy used considerable English in the Divine Liturgy, perhaps for the benefit of the Latin hierarchs who were present.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy the Patriarch distributed the Antidoron and the choir sang the “Hymn for the Patriarch”; the clergy joined in happily. The Nuncio spoke briefly, offering congratulations and good wishes, both to the Patriarch and to Bishop Hlib.
After the service and time to unvest, there was a reception and buffet luncheon in the cathedral hall.
Some of the out-of town guests stayed the night. On the Wednesday Bishop Hlib brought the Patriarch to visit several parishes in England.