On the special day of Holy Week: the most sorrowful day of the year – the day of Christ’s greatest suffering, Metropolitan Fedir of Poltava and Kremenchuk visited the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” with an archpastoral visit.
The team of the university together with the Volunteer Headquarters have traditionally prepared Easter treats for defenders – several hundred Easter paskas.
Metropolitan Fedir of Poltava and Kremenchuk personally performed the rite of consecration. Before the consecration, the Metropolitan delivered a speech in which he touched on the topic of the Ukrainian people’s journey to Calvary and the Christian explanation of the meaning of life – learning to love, which symbolically echoed in the Centre for Contemporary Art, surrounded by the exhibition “Here everything is permeated with love” – an exhibition of art by students of the Department of Fine Arts.
“Every time I come to the territory of the Poltava Polytechnic, I am happy. As soon as I entered, I immediately said that this is our Ukrainian, Poltava Stanford. God grant that we continue to develop, our nation has great potential – we can create new things, reach the heights, move through thorns to the stars. It is clear that we have such a challenge now, but it has been around for centuries.
Our task is to survive, repel the enemy, and regain independence. We must not lose hope. Our business is to do what we can, qualitatively, well, sincerely. Study, work for the common good. Students should study, not waste time on nonsense.
Christianity changed human civilization, proclaimed: God is Love. He called us to freedom, to be happy.
Do not doubt that good will overcome evil, but you must be patient. Everyone has periods of life when there is Calvary, but remember that the Lord is in control. We learn to love and serve each other, without love there is no true freedom. I congratulate everyone on the holiday and may God protect you all!” – wished the Metropolitan.
In joint prayer, he consecrated the Easter bread and blessed those present at the ceremony.
The conversation with the archpastor of the Poltava Region continued in the Hall of the Academic Council. Scientific and pedagogical workers of the university personally congratulated the bishop on his elevation to the rank of metropolitan by the decision of the head of the OCU His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
“Every such meeting on the eve of Easter is special. Archbishop every time notes the peculiarity of our Hall of the Academic Council and its special aura, the history of the home church of the Institute of Noble Girls.
This year, we talked about how to bring the victory of Ukraine closer, preserve the mental health of young people, find strength and inspiration for good, patriotic deeds.
Using examples from the philosophical parables of Hryhorii Skovoroda, Archbishop reminded that our society consists of different people – both those who think about the high, and those who are more down-to-earth, as well as those who even mock the great. But the greatness of truth and authenticity always remains. The Metropolitan noted that a person cannot fully exist without a community, because it is in the community that ideas are generated and results are achieved! Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate how important it is for us to be united and profess the main Christian values.
Thank you, Archbishop, for your pastoral support, always wonderful words that all of Ukraine needs, including those for the preservation of mental health, and sincere prayer on such a special day! Let’s share the light of Easter! Thank God for everything! Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!” – thanked the rector, Professor Volodymyr Onyshchenko.
For many years of fruitful cooperation and support of the university staff, assistance and involvement in charitable patriotic events of the university, volunteering and dedicated service to the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the rector presented Metropolitan Fedir of Poltava and Kremenchuk a Citation on behalf of the scientific and pedagogical staff as well as student team of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”.
Polytechnic volunteers passed the consecrated paskas (Easter bread) to the wounded defenders who are being treated in Poltava.
Last year, the archbishop attended the Easter meeting of the Academic Council of the university and consecrated a treat for the defenders on the front lines.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
