ADDRESS AT THE AIRPORT IN SYDNEY

We render deep and sincere thanks to Almighty God for being able, together with the Ukrainian Canadian and American Bishops, to reach this fifth Continent of the world, the farthest most situated land from us, Ukraine, Europe and America. Australia decorated in corals is veiled in a certain puzzling mystery, for she is called, rot without reason, the lard of contrasts. Here perhaps is to be found the earliest cradle of the human race-and for us the culmination of our apostolic journey.

Australia has her characteristic—prehistory with her rich verdant— plant-life and fascinating animal life, and her unheard of wealth, wool, animals, fruits, minerals and metals. Discovered rather late-for in the sixteenth century, Australia tied her destiny to the English Empire, and through her with the rest of the cultural world, in all her resolutions and directions of culture and political life.

With the end of World War, Australia entered the Commonwealth as a equal power-member, under the leadership of the Queen of England-up until the late nineteen forties there hardly existed any ties between Ukraine and Australia. It was in 1948 that these ties were effected with our fatherland, when the first Ukrainian refugees and immigrants settled in Australia, having been received, in their grave plight, by the Government of this Fifth Part of the world, with exceptional hospitality. For this reason the Ukrainian people owe this land a great debt of thanks; they have found here rare hospitality, a warm haven in a time of national distress and homelessness.

It is indeed marvelous to behold how in so short a time Ukrainians have prospered in Australia and have become her loyal citizens. Ten years ago with the mandate of the Apostolic See Ukrainian Catholic Bishops with Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk, Archbishop Ivan Bucko and Bishop Isidore Borecky of Toronto consecrated the present Bishop Ivan Prasko as the first Bishop of Australia and neighboring islands of the Pacific Ocean. The Ukrainian Orthodox also obtained their hierarchy.

Thus the Ukrainian Church soon blossomed with Eparchies and parishes and churches while their civic life developed with social and cultural institutions. Hearing while in prison about this progress our heart was filled with great joy and our visit here is, as it were a dream. And here lies the reason for our fortified spirit and great hopes. Besides us, Ukrainian Bishops came to this land after a long journey and grave difficulties, in order to complete and finish our pilgrimage to the Ukrainian shrines throughout the world, a pilgrimage perhaps the first in our history to bear witness to our religious and national Unity here on earth.

Greetings, therefore, to all of you and Archiepiscopal Blessings on this your adopted Fatherland.