UGCC Held Another Synod Abroad

On May 6, the 12th (83rd) session of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC began at the Pontifical Ukrainian College of St. Josaphat in Rome. The meeting, once again held outside Ukraine, is chaired by Sviatoslav Shevchuk, with Andriy Khimyak acting as the secretary. This was reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.

The main topic of discussion is preparation for the 2025 Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which will focus on pastoral care for families in the context of war. The report was presented by UGCC hierarch Archbishop Arkadiy Trokhanoivskyi, head of the Patriarchal Commission for Family and Laity. The report discusses the formation of a network of lay leaders, support for initiatives in social service, and the promotion of «leadership in wartime.»

Synodal sessions will continue until May 9.

Earlier, we reported that one of the previous Synod meetings of the UGCC was held in Washington. It is worth noting that in the summer of 2005, the UGCC officially moved its center from Lviv to the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. Since then, Kyiv has been considered the center of the denomination, and the «patriarchal see» is the Kyiv Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. Why the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church holds synod meetings in the USA and Canada, so far from Ukraine, remains unclear.