【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2024 年11月 22 日烏克蘭紮波羅熱訊】 ─ 2024年11月21日（星期四），在烏克蘭紮波羅熱的永援聖母堂舉行慈幼會Maksym Ryabukha蒙席就任烏克蘭希臘天主教會頓涅茨克教區新總主教的典禮。
就任典禮在獻聖母於聖殿慶日舉行，並由Sviatoslav Shevchuk總主教主禮。他是Kyiv-Halyč大總主教及烏克蘭希臘天主教會主教會議主席。與他共祭的還有教廷駐烏克蘭大使Visvaldas Kulbokas總主教、頓涅茨克教區榮休總主教Stepan Menyok總主教，以及來自烏克蘭各地的多位主教，包括希臘天主教和羅馬天主教的主教，以及一些烏克蘭東正教會的牧者。
Ryabukha主教於2022年9月被任命為頓涅茨克教區輔理主教，並於2024年10月17日晉升為該教區的總主教。這一任命是在Menyok主教提交辭呈後由教宗正式批准生效的。任命法令由烏克蘭希臘天主教會主教會議秘書Andrii Khimyak主教，於禮儀開始時宣讀。
在禮儀中，Shevchuk總主教強調，Ryabukha主教是在國家經歷殘酷戰爭期間擔任此職務的。他說道：「在你面前的是一條漫長而艱難的道路，需要治癒戰爭所帶來的創傷。要準備好侍奉那些因這場殘酷衝突而遭受損失的人，用天主的話語安慰寡婦，為孤兒拭去淚水，並宣講對天主仁慈的希望。」
Shevchuk總主教特別強調，Ryabukha主教的就任與獻聖母於聖殿慶日同時舉行具有特殊意義。他呼籲這位新牧者引導因戰爭而失去希望的受苦烏克蘭人民回到教會。他祈禱說：「主啊，請幫助現今迷失了的數百萬烏克蘭人，這些人正被敵人試圖剝奪他們所有的希望。握住他們的手，帶領他們找到回到真實聖殿的道路，引領他們歸向祢。」
隨後，Ryabukha主教宣讀誓詞，誦念《信經》並莊嚴就任為頓涅茨克教區的第二任主教。
禮儀結束後，教廷駐烏克蘭大使Kulbokas總主教向新任主教致詞，提醒他「祈禱的力量」以及「時刻懷著感恩之心的重要性」。
Menyok主教也致詞勸勉和祝賀。他回憶起頓涅茨克教區的成立和發展，以及當地修道生活對該地區信徒的精神生活做出的重大貢獻。
最後，Ryabukha主教對每位到場觀禮者的參與和關愛表示感謝。他感謝Menyok主教在兩年輔理主教工作中提供的「不懈支持」。他還向各教友致意，指出「還有更多的人希望能來到這裡，但由於宵禁和戰爭的限制，許多人未能出席。」此外，他感謝軍隊在這段艱難的歷史時期保障了安全。
這位慈幼會主教最後請求教友為他祈禱，他說：「凡有兩三個人奉天主的名相聚，天主就必在他們中間。我真心希望天主永遠與我們同在，特別是在我們熱愛的烏克蘭土地上。」
典禮在眾人齊唱烏克蘭的精神讚歌《God, Great and One.》中結束。
Installation Ceremony of Mons. Maksym Ryabukha, SDB, as the New Archeparchial Exarch of Donetsk
(ANS – Ukraine–Zaporizhzhia, 22 November 2024) – On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the installation ceremony of Salesian Mons. Maksym Ryabukha as the new Archeparchial Exarch of the Greek Catholic Church of Donetsk took place in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
The solemn Divine Liturgy, celebrated on the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was presided over by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč and President of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He was joined by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Mons. Visvaldas Kulbokas, Mons. Stepan Menyok, Emeritus Archeparchial Exarch of Donetsk, and several other bishops—both Greek and Roman Catholic—from across Ukraine, along with some pastors of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Mons. Ryabukha, who had been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Exarchate of Donetsk in September 2022, was elevated to Archeparchial Exarch of the same exarchate on October 17, 2024. This followed the papal acceptance of the resignation submitted by the previous titular Exarch, Mons. Menyok. The decree of appointment was read at the beginning of the celebration by Mons. Andrii Khimyak, Secretary of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
During the liturgy, Mons. Shevchuk emphasized that Mons. Ryabukha had taken on this role during a time of brutal war in the country. “Ahead of you lies a long and challenging journey to heal the wounds caused by war. Be ready to serve all those who have suffered losses due to this brutal conflict, to console widows with the word of God, to dry the tears of orphans, and to proclaim hope in God’s mercy.”
Highlighting the significance of the installation coinciding with the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, Mons. Shevchuk called on the new pastor to guide suffering Ukrainians, who are losing hope because of the war, back to the Church. He prayed: “Lord, help the millions of Ukrainians who today are lost and whom the enemy seeks to strip of all hope, to find their way back to the true temple. Take them by the hand and lead them to You.”
Mons. Ryabukha then took the oath, recited the “Symbol of Faith,” and was solemnly installed as the second Exarch of Donetsk.
Following the liturgy, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Mons. Kulbokas, addressed the new Archeparchial Exarch, reminding him of “the power of prayer” and “the importance of always giving thanks.”
Mons. Menyok also spoke, offering words of guidance and congratulations. He recalled the formation and development of the Donetsk Exarchate and the significant contributions of local monasticism to the spiritual life of the faithful in the region.
Finally, Mons. Ryabukha expressed gratitude to everyone present for their participation and affection. He thanked Mons. Menyok for his “endless support” during their two years of collaboration in administering the exarchate. He also acknowledged the faithful of the exarchate, noting, “Many more people would have liked to be here, but the restrictions of the curfew and the war in general prevented many from attending.” Additionally, he extended thanks to the military for ensuring safety during this difficult historical period.
The Salesian bishop concluded by asking the assembly to pray for him, stating: “Where two or three gather in God’s name, God is always among them. And I truly want God to remain with us now and forever here, in our beloved Ukrainian land.”
The ceremony concluded with the assembly singing Ukraine’s spiritual hymn, “God, Great and One.”