Ukraine organizes the national prayer day to mark three years of war years

When the struggles raged between Kyiv and Moscow, the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches in Ukraine urged unity and hope. The national prayer day, the first of its kind, was founded by a parliamentary decision, which was adopted on February 12 with the support of 255 legislators. After the United States, Ukraine was only the second country in the world, which legally recognized a national prayer day.

“This initiative came from Christian political leaders and was supported by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who identified himself as an atheist, but after three years of war, increasingly called God, faith and prayer” by Kyiv-Zhytomyr in an interview with La Croix.

Pray for a “just peace”

Religious leaders asked the faithful to attend themselves to fast and special prayer services. “In the Catholic Church and in other Christian communities, priests invited people to get into the liturgy to pray for a fair peace, for divine protection over Ukrainian soldiers and the eternal rest of the dead,” said Yazlovetskiy. “This day It is important because it strengthens our faith communities and shows the world that we are a nation that puts their hope in God. “

In addition to Christian denominations, Jewish and Muslim worshipers have also joined the spiritual initiative. “The enemy who entered our country has united our people in prayer to defend our independence” Vatican news Mid -February.

Honor of victims of war

In three years, the war caused devastating human losses and sold more than six million refugees to neighboring countries, with another 3.7 million being sold internally in Ukraine. The national prayer day extended beyond the borders of Ukraine, with ceremonies in other countries.

During a Sunday liturgy on February 23 in St. Nicholas Church in Crete, the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew said that Ukraine had to be “quite” included in peace negotiations. Later on this day, in a message for Angelus, Pope Francis, who had been admitted to the hospital since February 14 Against Ukraine. “He renewed his solidarity with the” suffering Ukrainian people “and called for prayers for victims of armed worldwide Conflicts.