On February 28, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, together with the bishops of the Permanent Synod, visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada. The delegation met with the Counselor-Envoy of the Embassy Andriy Bukvych and other diplomats. The meeting served an opportunity to discuss the role of the Church in supporting Ukrainians abroad and strengthening international solidarity with Ukraine.
At the meeting, the parties discussed the important role of the Church in supporting diplomatic initiatives. The Counselor-Envoy emphasized the special importance of interaction between diplomacy and the Church, especially in times of war.
“Diplomats encounter a certain skepticism at meetings with politicians. On the other hand, when you, as representatives of Church, talk about Ukraine, about human suffering, your words are perceived as the direct truth,” Bukvych emphasized.
The Embassy representative also noted the significance of the visits of His Beatitude Sviatoslav and the bishops of the UGCC to various countries, noting that such trips “significantly help in promoting Ukrainian interests.”
Another important topic of conversation was the role of the UGCC in supporting internally displaced persons and their adaptation to life in a new country.
“The Church is a place where people can find support, share experiences. It helps them remain part of the Ukrainian community,” the diplomat noted.
In turn, His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed gratitude to Ukrainian diplomats for their daily work and emphasized the commonality of the mission of the Church and diplomacy.
“Diplomacy is the art of building relationships. The Church is also a global network of relationships that helps preserve identity and support the people in difficult times,” the Head of the UGCC emphasized.
He also mentioned the historical role of Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytsky and Patriarch Yosyf Slipy in creating Ukrainian church structures in the diaspora, which today serve as the foundation for supporting the Ukrainian community in Canada and other countries.
The participants of the meeting agreed on the critical importance of combining the efforts of the state, diplomacy, Church, and the Ukrainian community in times of war. Representatives from the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada assured their readiness for further cooperation and support for the UGCC in its pastoral mission.
“You can always count on our help and open doors,” Andriy Bukvych assured, addressing the bishops of the UGCC.
UGCC Information Department
