Today, January 11, marks exactly five years since the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Bishop Michael of Koman was appointed Exarch to Ukraine.
In an interview with the Spiritual Front of Ukraine, among other things, he spoke of the charity efforts by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (UOC USA) and the publication of the Gospel aprakos.
Bishop Michael noted that the UOC of the USA, living in a new society, found a form for communication with people, state authorities, and other local Orthodox Churches.
“Let’s put it this way, there are again many questions related to the mission. Because, for example, the Orthodox Church of the USA, because they are on the territory of the USA, were forced to live in a new society. Not in the realities where Ukrainians lived here in Ukraine. Accordingly, they found a form for communication. And not only with Ukrainians, with all people with whom they had to communicate. And in many ways we, as a mission, can learn from them. In particular, communication with state authorities, communication with other local Orthodox Churches,” said the hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
“In my personal opinion, I see that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA has found an opportunity to clearly communicate with modern society. Not only keep their tradition alive. The Church lives along with people and not only with people, but even with people who are not Orthodox, maybe they just communicate in one way or another over everyday needs,” Bishop Michael shared.
He also recalled that the very publication of the Aprakos Gospel and the Aprakos Apostle was, one might say, a continuation of all the humanitarian aid that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA allocated to support Ukraine, especially amid the Russian invasion.
“Millions of dollars were collected and transferred through the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, through other volunteers, in the form of medicines, products… and in particular, in the field of book publishing, we also got involved a little, and the Orthodox Church of the USA sponsored the publication of the Gospel and the Apostle in the Aprakos format, for free distribution among clergy, parishes, and students,” concluded Bishop Michael of Koman.
