Visit of His Beatitude Sviatoslav to Estonia

Representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia took part in events held in connection with the visit to Estonia of His Beatitude Sviatoslav — Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

The Head of the Association Volodymyr Palamar, the Head of the Ukrainian community "Vodohrai" in Sillamäe — Larysa Zhytnyk, as well as representatives of the Association greeted His Beatitude Sviatoslav and took part in a meeting with the heads of Ukrainian communities of Estonia and in a shared prayer. His Beatitude led the Divine Liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, attended by parishioners from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland — over 600 Ukrainian men and women in all. The Liturgy was co-celebrated by Bishop Philippe Jourdan, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Tallinn; Bishop Stepan Sus, Head of the UGCC Pastoral and Migration Department; and Father Roman Kikh, pastor for Greek Catholic Ukrainians in Estonia. This was His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s first visit to Estonia.

At the meeting with the heads of Ukrainian communities, His Beatitude Sviatoslav drew attention to the specifics of how Ukrainians abroad interact and the impact of russian attacks on the community, to the role of the church as a unifying symbol and "a mother for all", and to the need to "nurture unity among ourselves". The Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church also expressed words of gratitude to Estonia and the Estonian people for their important support and solidarity!

"Believe me, russia is attacking not only Ukrainians in Ukraine. russia is intensively attacking our communities and public organisations abroad, especially in those countries that actively stand on Ukraine’s side. For example, russia will not actively attack Ukrainians in Brazil, but it will attack Ukrainians in Estonia and Germany or other EU countries," noted His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

"How does it do this? I want to tell you about certain signs that will help you orient yourselves. If you are under attack, russia will do everything to set you against one another and divide you. If toxic people appear in your communities who artificially create conflicts and tension — neutralise them. Put unity in the name of victory first!

We sometimes have a sense of exclusivity: if you are not in my public organisation, then you are my enemy. But Ukrainians’ tendency towards the exclusivism of public institutions is something our enemy will today try to use as a weapon against us.

I earnestly ask you: step over private personal ambitions, grievances, conflicts. Unite. In a community that has managed to organise a single structure, as an umbrella organisation, there the voice of the Ukrainian community can move mountains before the state and the world!"

At the end of the meeting, His Beatitude presented his book "Ukraine Stands. Ukraine Fights. Ukraine Prays" with his personal signature to the Head of the Ukrainian community "Vodohrai", Larysa Zhytnyk, where it will now be kept in the organisation’s library.

We sincerely thank His Beatitude for the opportunity for representatives of the Association and the Ukrainian Youth Association to tell him about the organisations’ current activities and projects for Ukrainians in Estonia.

We thank the priest and pastor of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Estonia, Roman Kikh.

We take His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s words to heart and we believe!

Nadiya Maksymyuk, PLAST in Finland.

Vasyl Hutsul, Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa ry / Ukrainian Society in Finland.