Kyiv - On January 16, 2010, in Kyiv, in the International Exhibition Center, which is located near the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, His Beatitude Lubomyr, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, received guests to share with them the Christmas prosphoron. The participants of the celebration were bishops, priests, laity, representatives of the government, creative intelligentsia – together about 300-350 guests who presented all eparchies and exarchates of the UGCC in Ukraine.
Before the beginning of the festivities His Beatitude Lubomyr spoke with the representatives of the mass media. The feast began with the performance the youth choir Dzvinovok, which sang Christmas carols of different nations. Afterward the leader of the feast, Taras Zhyrko, invited His Beatitude Lubomyr to speak. Addressing those present, the head of the UGCC remarked in particular: “Present here is only a small part of the people who have ties to this cathedral. With your presence you manifest life in unity, although each person is completely different. I hope sincerely that these prosphora will repeat for many years and even then, when the building of cathedral will be completed, we will gather together to see this church as a symbol of our unity.”
After the speech the head of the UGCC called the participants of the feast to pray so that the participants felt that they are one Church, one nation. Afterward they prayed for the brothers and sisters who passed into eternity. And at the end they prayed for the solitary and homeless people. Next the hierarchies brought to His Beatitude Lubomyr prosphora poured with the honey, and he blessed them. Then they were shared with all those present.
Later began the artistic program, in which participated different collectives. In particular, the bandura choir Dzvinha from Lviv, the youth choir of the Patriarch’s Cathedral, and verteps. Guests were invited to sing along, and then everyone tasted the Christmas dishes.
A charitable auction took place during the celebration. The collected money (over 10 thousand UAH) will be used for the completion of the building of the Patriarch’s Center.
At the completion of the celebration all attention was focused on the Patriarch’s Cathedral, which at that moment was beautifully illuminated.
Information Department of the UGCC