In Sokal, Lviv region, the Pontifical Ordination of the newly appointed Assistant Bishop of the Sokal-Zhovkva Diocese, Bishop Petro (Loza), took place on July 12, 2018. The ordination was carried out during the Bishops' Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the dedication day of the Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Sokal, Lviv region. The presiding hierarch was the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav. Co-celebrating with him was Bishop Igor (Voznyak), the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Lviv, and Bishop Mikhail (Koltun), the Eparch of Sokal-Zhovkivsky. Bishops, priests and faithful took part in the ordination.

In his sermon to the faithful, Patriarch Sviatoslav noted that Christ called for an episcopal ministry and installed one shepherd for the Ukrainian people.

“We have witnessed the consecration of our fellow Bishop Peter. Who is a bishop? This is the heir of the apostles. Today we have received a new heir of the apostles who will bring the Word of God into the world, who is entrusted in a special way to preach the Holy Gospel. A bishop is the heir to the apostles who is called in a special way to maintain the Apostolic tradition, preach the Word of God, teach people a way to salvation,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

The First Hierarch added, “We, in the name of the Holy Father Pope, introduced him into the collegium of heirs of the Apostles. He was recognized to be one of us. There were also hierarchs of the Latin rite present. Today, the Bishop came into communion with all the heirs of the apostles in the Ecumenical Church, who are in unity with the heir of the Apostle Peter in our days. We have today seen the living icon of the Ecumenical Church.” (Quelle: www.risu.org.ua, 12. Juli 2018)