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“Every human being in this world has some dream. I also want the word ‘Lviv-er’ not only to be a description of an inhabitant of Lviv but also a synonym of the word ‘honesty.’ And it does not matter in which corner of the world a ‘Lviv-er’ would appear; it should be possible to say about him: ‘This is honest person.’ That is why I wish the city authorities and deputies would take care that in this city these honest ‘Lviv-ers’ be educated.” So said His Beatitude Lubomyr, Head of the UGCC, after he was handed the award “Honored citizen of Lviv.” The ceremony took place on May 3 during a festive session of the Lviv City Council. His Beatitude was distinguished for his prominent personal contribution to the spiritual revival of the Ukrainian people, long-term church activity, and on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of his birth.

At the beginning of his speech, the Head of the UGCC said: “I am a ‘Lviv-er’ and cannot understand why I was made an ‘honored Lviv-er’… I would be happier if I were named an ‘honest Lviv-er,’” he explained.

Consequently, the Head of the UGCC expressed his thanks for distinguishing him as an “Honored citizen” and noted: “I do not know that have I done so much for Lviv in order to distinguish me. In fact, I lived here a little bit more than a quarter of my life.... However, I want to declare that, wherever I am, I will never consciously do anything so that Lviv should be ashamed of me.”

At the completion of his speech, His Beatitude Lubomyr talked about the task of Lviv in the all-Ukrainian picture: “Lviv needs Kyiv, and Kyiv needs Lviv… Lviv is the connection of our country with European values. Lviv has to be an example for all Ukraine of those values thanks to which Europe became Europe. There are many things there which are not necessary to imitate, but there are many spiritual values and Lviv itself has be their witness,” summed up the Head of the UGCC.

Information Department of the UGCC