The Father and Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav personally and on behalf of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC congratulated Bishop Mykhailo Koltna, the Eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkiv and the first bishop of the UGCC, who was ordained after the Church emerged from the underground, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his episcopal ordination, which he is celebrating today.
“The episcopal ordination that you received from the hands of Myroslav Cardinal Lyubachivskyi and Bishops Volodymyr Sterniuk and Sofron Dmyterk was the first after our Church emerged from the underground. She became a source of graces that flowed to the Church, wounded after the persecutions, but unconquered,” says the welcome letter.
“Celebrating your anniversary,” writes the Head of the Church, “we want to appreciate your service on the hills of the gray Dnieper as the Exarch of Kyiv-Vyshgorod and your many years of devoted service to the needs of our soldiers.” In your person, the fathers and lay people of the Sokal-Zhovkiv diocese see a zealous preacher of God’s Word, a wise guide and a caring father.”
“Accept from us our sincere wishes for God’s abundant blessings, the help of the Holy Spirit in all your endeavors for the glory of God and for the good of our Church and the people – for many and happy summers,” the greeting says.
Information Department of the UGCC