Become true witnesses of Christ’s Resurrection, says Ukrainian Catholic Bishop

05 May 2022

By The Record

Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton with Bishop Mykola Bychok and Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB
Ukrainian Catholic Church Bishop Mykola Bychok, with Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, Sunday 27 March at St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Michelle Tan.

Ukrainian Catholic Church Bishop Mykola Bychok has last week delivered his 2022 Easter Message, highlighting the need to witness the resurrection of Christ more than ever.

Bishop Bychok recently visited Perth, meeting with Archbishop Timothy Costelloe and Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, celebrating the Divine Liturgy and praying for the crises in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Catholic Church Bishop Mykola Bychok, top centre, with Kalgoorlie Parish Priest Brennan Sia, and Ukrainian Catholic Church St John the Baptist Parish Priest Fr Ihor Holovko during Bishop Bychok’s recent tour of Western Australia. Photo: Bishop Mykola Bychok/Facebook.

Beloved in Christ! The Resurrection of Christ is always a great feast of joy. Unfortunately, this year’s Easter is intertwined with deep sadness for us, as the war has come to our native Ukraine. Although in Australia we are far from Ukraine, we are close in heart and mind. We are all worried about the war and we are praying constantly from the depths of our heart for the safety and wellbeing of our poor and suffering brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

In this time of trial, we need to witness the Resurrection of Christ more than ever. At a time when the apostles doubted and were persecuted by the Jews, the myrrh-bearing women were the first to preach the Risen Christ.

Therefore, the task of modern Christians is to become true witnesses of Christ’s Resurrection, despite all the difficulties and hardships we experience in life.

I sincerely greet all the faithful of the Eparchy of Melbourne on this great feast and wish you a blessed and happy Easter.

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

Ukrainian soldiers inspect a destroyed house in Bucha, Ukraine, 6 April 2022, during the Russian war. The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations as well as individual religious leaders have condemned the atrocities apparently committed by Russian troops in Bucha and other cities. Photo: CNS/Alkis Konstantinidis, Reuters.

Христос Воскрес! Воістину Воскрес!

Дорогі у Христі! Христове Воскресіння – це завжди свято радості. Та на жаль, цьогорічна Пасха для нас є переплетена із глибоким смутком, оскільки війна прийшла до нашого рідного Українського Дому. Як відповідь на цей виклик, християни цілого світу об’єдналися в молитві за мир та відкрили свої серця до страждань нашого народу.

Христове Воскресіння є сповненням нашої надії, світлом серед темряви, дороговказом у сумнівах та знаменом перемоги добра над злом. Нам потрібно пам’ятати, що в нашій дорозі до Воскресіння ми не є одні – Христос товаришує з нами, відкривається нам у Святих Тайнах, підкріплюючи нас Своїм Тілом та Кров’ю, даючи захист та пристановище у Церкві. Саме це є запорука нашого спасіння.

Вітаю всіх вірних Мельбурнської Єпархії із цим великим празником та бажаю благословенних та веселих Пасхальних Свят.