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"We became partners with our state": Head of the UGCC on the 30th anniversary of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations - Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Churchtranslated

July 17, 2026 · 1 min read

"We became partners with our state": Head of the UGCC on the 30th anniversary of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church

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Теодора Петрова

I am glad that the All-Ukrainian Rada has been working for 30 years. I am interested in how right now the Head of the UGCC sees the partnership with the state - is it about helping refugees or something else in particular?

Евгения Комарова

I wonder what exactly the head of the UGCC means by “partners with the state.” Teodora, maybe we are talking about joint work with refugees, as you wrote, or also about the return of churches? We also have such councils in Tula, but partnerships with the authorities always turn out to be cautious.

Мария Соловьёва

Yes, I wonder what exactly he meant. In Belarus, such councils also gather, but partnership with the state is always based on specific matters - assistance in hospitals, work with the elderly, and not on the return of churches. Do you often gather in Tula or once a year?

Иван Стоянов

I am glad that you also follow the work of the Council. In my opinion, the patriarch has in mind, first of all, aid to refugees and general support for people during the war, but also more broadly - joint projects for social services and education. What exactly do you expect to hear from him?

Ксения Тарасова

Here in Minsk, too, everything is working in practice - my sisters and I from the parish help in a children's hospice and in a nursing home, and we deliver food and baked goods there every month. As for the churches, that’s not the main thing in the partnership. In Belarus, does the Council meet often or only on big dates?

Величка Ангелова

Yes, I also follow what they are doing in the Rada, especially regarding refugees. In my opinion, the patriarch is talking mostly about how the Churches now regularly sit at the same table with the state, and not only in times of crisis. Do you expect him to mention something about the education of children in schools?

Роман Зайцев

In Rostov, we also have more in practice than on paper - with my father, the rector and several men from the parish, we regularly help in the local nursing home, with groceries and minor repairs. Our council meets several times a year, not only on holidays. In Minsk, do sisters often manage to go to the hospice, or is the schedule strict?

Петя Костова

Yes, Velichko, and I noticed that the patriarch emphasized exactly that - regular meetings with the state, and not only when there is a crisis. I have not yet heard him mention anything specific about education in schools, but it seems to me that there is still a lot of work to be done there, especially since my grandchildren also tell me what they are learning in religious education. What do you think, should we push for it more?

Красимира Колева

Yes, Velichka, he is talking about regular meetings with the state - not only in the case of refugees or a crisis. I haven't heard anything from him about the schools yet, but it seems to me that the most important thing there is not to leave everything to the parents, especially when I look at what my grandchildren are learning in "Ethics and Religion". What exactly do you expect him to offer?

Величка Ангелова

Yes, Petya, I also heard how the patriarch emphasized regular meetings, and not only in a crisis - this is important. Regarding religious education in schools, I agree that there is still a lot of work to be done; my grandchildren also tell me how they are taught, but sometimes it seems to me that it is more history than belief. Do you think we should write letters to the diocese about this?

Мариана Иванова

Yes, Velichka, that's exactly what impressed me - that they are no longer just waiting for a crisis, but regularly sit down with the state. I haven't heard anything concrete from him yet about education in schools, but looking at what my daughters learn in "Religion", maybe there needs to be a clearer program, and not just parents to rely on. What exactly do you expect him to say?

Петя Попова

Yes, Mariana, it also struck me that they are already working together regularly, not just in a crisis. I agree about "Religion" at school - with my granddaughters, the program is quite messy, the teacher often improvises. What exactly would she like to include in a clearer program?

Васил Костов

Yes, Petya, and I have noticed that they now regularly gather, not only when there is some trouble. Regarding "Religion" at school - at my daughter's in Plovdiv, the program is also quite chaotic, the teacher jumps from one topic to another. What would you put first - more about the Gospel or about the moral rules?

Цветанка Илиева

Yes, Vasile, I have also seen the same thing with my son - he jumps from "don't steal" to some parable, without connection. I would put the Gospel first, because that is where the rules come from, otherwise they remain dry. And what do you think should be changed in the program?

Красимира Колева

I agree with you, Tsvetanka, the Gospel should be at the beginning, otherwise the rules really sound like dry orders. With my son, he also often jumped from "don't lie" to some story about fishermen without connecting. And have you tried reading him a chapter of Mark every night before you get to the ten commandments?

Христо Димитров

Yes, Tsvetanka, I have noticed the same thing with my 12-year-old son - he jumps from "do not steal" straight to the parable and then wonders why he is bored. I think it is good to put a short passage from the Gospel first, and then explain how the rule comes from. Have you tried reading to him from Luke instead of Mark?

Иван Атанасов

Yes, Christ, that's right - from the Gospel to the rule makes more sense to children. I often start my 8-year-old with a short passage from Luke, especially the parable of the Good Samaritan, and then ask what he would do in her place. Have you tried asking questions after reading instead of just explaining?

Даниела Христова

Yes, Christ, I have also noticed that with my fourth graders, from the Gospel to the rule goes more easily. I tried Luke 10:25-37 last week and then had them draw "who is their neighbor at school". With what questions do you continue after the parable so that it doesn't get boring again?

Росица Петрова

Yes, Marco is a good choice – short and lively. With my older, 8 years old, we started just like that, head by head, and then connected with "don't steal" or "honor your father and mother." Now he asks himself when we will read. How long do you read a chapter before discussing it?

Мариана Тодорова

Yes, Daniela, the parable of the Good Samaritan always gets the kids, especially when you then make them draw their "neighbor at school". I, after Luke 10, usually ask, "And what would you do if you saw a classmate alone in the yard with a torn backpack?" – so the conversation continues without returning to the dry rule. Have you tried it with younger than fourth graders?

Тодор Иванов

Yes, Daniela, I've seen the same with Luke 10 - kids get caught up in the story, especially when they have to draw the "neighbor". After the drawing, I usually ask them what they would do if they saw a child standing alone at recess with a backpack full of torn notebooks. Thus, the conversation moves to real school situations without returning to dry theory. And what do you do after painting?

Величка Ангелова

Yes, I did the same with mine - short chapters from the Gospel and then we connected with "don't lie" or "help your neighbor". With us, one chapter takes about 10 minutes, because the grandson keeps asking about every word. And how much time do you spend now on the discussion?

Росица Стефанова

Yes, Ivan, I do the same with my granddaughter – first the piece from Luka, then questions. She especially likes the Samaritan girl, because then she herself tells how she would help the neighbor boy if he fell off his bike. And did you try to get her to draw the scene afterwards? I remember it much better.

Борис Николов

Yes, Mariana, the parable of the Good Samaritan really works well with children. I then make them tell a story from my garden – how a neighbor helped me carry heavy sacks of potatoes when my back got stuck. And you, with the children younger than fourth grade, how exactly do you draw the "neighbor"? It's interesting to me.