Cardinal Mykola Bychok arrived in Kherson

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Cardinal Mykola Bychok of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church arrived inKherson.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>This was announced by Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional State Administration.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>During the meeting, Oleksandr Prokudin discussed the security and humanitarian situation in the region, the consequences of Russian terror, and the challenges faced daily by the residents of the Kherson region. He presented the Cardinal with a copy of the book “Unbreakable Kherson,” which chronicles the city’s experience of survival, governance, and recovery amid constant Russian shelling.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Oleksandr Prokudin also thanked the Cardinal for his courage in visiting a city that the Russian army shells and attacks with drones every day. He asked the Cardinal to continue using the Church’s authority to draw the international community’s attention to the Kherson region, to tell the world the truth about Russia’s crimes, and to support our people.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

On July 19, the Cardinal visited Odesa. During his visit, he presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle and prayed for the deceased.

Mykola Bychokis the head of the Melbourne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Australia. He is currently considered the youngest cardinal in the world. 

Cardinal Mykola Bychokwas born on February 13, 1980, in Ternopil. After years of missionary work in Ukraine, Siberia, and the United States, in 2020 he became head of the Melbourne Diocese of Saints Peter and Paul of the UGCC in Australia and New Zealand. In late 2024, Pope Francis elevated the then-44-year-old bishop to the rank of cardinal, a move that served not only as recognition of his personal merits but also as a voice of support for all of Ukraine. The cardinal is actively involved in providing humanitarian aid and spiritual support to Ukrainian refugees, as well as advocating for Ukraine’s interests on the international stage.

Previously, a sociological survey showed that the majority of residents of the Odesa region supported the use of the Ukrainian language in church. At the same time, most respondents affirmed their freedom of religion and reported no persecution based on their religious beliefs. 

Юлія Калабайда