Jubilee in the Ukrainian Catholic Church - London and Edinburgh

Today, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica, beginning the Jubilee of Hope 2025, in which 30 million people are expected to participate. In addition to pilgrimages to Rome, long considered the centre of the Jubilee Year, the Papal Bull Spes non confundit - 'Hope will not disappoint; - encourages the faithful to make pilgrimages to other shrines and designated Jubilee Pilgrimage Churches: we will have two in London and Edinburgh.

"While the celebration of jubilee years is primarily a tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, while observing it, do so according to their own tradition. Therefore, we have developed a plan of activities for the global Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and, of course, for the faithful of the UGCC in Great Britain", explains Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski.

That's why there will be a special Divine Liturgy as a solemn opening of the Jubilee Year on Sunday, 29 December 2024, in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London at 10am. Bishop Nowakowski will celebrate the liturgical rite, which will include the reading of selected portions of the Holy Father's Bull, followed by the reading of decrees proclaiming Jubilee Pilgrimage Churches within the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. The ceremony will conclude with the opening of the designated church doors, symbolising the commencement of the Jubilee Year.

The Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London and the Church of Saint Andrew and Our Lady of Pochayiv in Edinburgh are the two churches that have been proclaimed Jubilee Pilgrimage Churches for the Eparchy.

Pilgrimage and Indulgence

Pilgrims who wish to obtain a full Jubilee indulgence must visit either of these churches and fulfil all the requirements for the indulgence - receive the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, participate in the Holy Liturgy, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. These requirements need to be followed between 29 December 2024 and 28 December 2025 to obtain the indulgence.

The faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) will join with their Latin Rite brothers and sisters in celebrating the year of Jubilee, but will do so in the spirit of their own ecclesiastical heritage.

Logo and Icon

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has its own logo and icon: the logo depicts a boat -a symbol of the earthly, journeying Church, sailing towards the heavenly, glorified Church, the Kingdom of God- and the mast of the boat is the life-giving Cross of Christ, a sign of victory over sin and its consequence, death. On the sails is the Greek Christogram "IC XC NIKA," meaning "Jesus Christ conquers". The anchor is an ancient Christian symbol of Christ-hope.

The icon is a mosaic of the Intercessor (Theotokos-Oranta) from the capital's St Sophia Cathedral - a symbol of the fullness of the united Kyiv Church.

In the UK, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has an Eparchy, or diocese - the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. The Eparchy is led by Bishop (Eparch) Kenneth Nowakowski.

During the jubilee year, the Catholic Church offer opportunities for reconciliation, aimed at strengthening and reviving faith. The most fundamental goal of all these events is spiritual renewal. It is an opportunity for pilgrimages to Jubilee shrines, prayer, and works of mercy.

The central event of the Jubilee Year for the faithful of the UGCC is the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Rome on 28 June 2025, which will be led by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Head and Father of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, with the participation of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, clergy, religious, and faithful from all over the world.