KYIV. His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr greeted the representatives of Ukrainian Association of the Blind in the Khmelnytskyi area on the 75th anniversary of their foundation
Address of His
Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr to the representatives of the Khmelnytskyi
regional organization Ukrainian Fellowship of the Association of the Blind on 75th anniversary of their
establishment and on the White Cane Day
KHMELNYTSKYI REGIONAL ORGANIZATION
OF THE UKRAINIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND on the 75th
anniversary
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I heartily congratulate you on
the world's White Cane's Day and on the prominent event - the 75th
anniversary of foundation of the All Ukrainian Public Fellowship of the Association
of the Blind.
Every feast, and a
jubilee in particular, as an outstanding event makes think over the actual
correspondence of our possibilities and the real deeds. Analysing that it turns out that we are gifted with many talents
from God and are
capable of being useful
for the people needing help and care.
The Holy Scripture teaches us to be sensitive to the people's grief and to make
the neighbours' sufferings easier with our participation. That is how the law of Christ
is fulfilled. Throughout its years-long history the All-Ukrainian Fellowship of
the Blind proved that it walks the way of fulfillment of the god's law and its
major commandment - "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind... And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. (Matthew
22; 37-39). And the one doing a good deed for his neighbour, as Jesus
Christ teaches us, he does it for the God himself. "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me." (Matthew 25; 40).
During these 75 years the All-Ukrainian
Fellowship of the Blind has done lots of good deeds. With its assistance tens
of people with visual problem have been able to receive full-valued education,
job and medical care; they better cope with the difficulties with
transportation and self-service. For
many the Fellowship became the life support, uniting the kind-hearted people,
who are not indifferent to the problems and pains of a neighbour. Due to the activity of your public
association, our blind compatriots feel themselves protected and necessary to
our society.
On this solemn day I give you and your associates in the matter of
socialization of visually disabled people my heartily wishes of the God's
blessing, "opening the eyes of the blind" (Psalms 145; 8), and
giving strength to walk a hard way of your choice - the way of serving the
neighbour. Let your slogan in your future deeds will be a call of the Saviour:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven." (matthew
5; 16).
May the blessing of Our Lord Jesus Christ rest on all of you.
† Volodymyr,
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine,
Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
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