The year started on a joyful note, when in early January the Tomos of autocephaly was granted to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) all expressed greetings and congratulations to all Ukrainians of faith upon this historic achievement. “The Tomos, received from the Mother Church of Constantinople, returns Ukrainian Orthodoxy to its historic roots, restores historical justice and strengthens the dignity of all faithful in Ukraine,” stated UWC President Paul Grod. “We join the appeal of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to all leaders of autocephalous Orthodox Churches to recognize the newly created Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”