For the third year in a row, the UGCC holds baptism vow renewals during the celebrations for the Baptizing of Rus’-Ukraine

“Today, in every parochial community of our Church, all over Ukraine, after the Divine Liturgy, there will be an opportunity to renew baptism vows, which either we, or our godparents in our name, proclaimed on the day we accepted the Sacrament of baptism. We tried to express the deep value and significance of this ceremony taking place on such a historical occasion in the ‘Appeal for the day Saint Volodymyr and the Baptizing of Rus’-Ukraine,’ which will be read in every church,” His Beatitude Lubomyr explained during the sermon Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was served in Kyiv on July 26. Bishop Bohdan (Dzyurakh), Secretary of Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, priests and numerous faithful, took part in the celebratory divine service marking the 1021st anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus.’ The service took place on the territory were the future Patriarchal center of UGCC will be. “Each of us, who today, with Divine help, will renew their vows, should desire to be good Christians not only for themselves but for the good of the whole community. On the basis of this, we will be able to develop a just political system,” remarked the Head of the UGCC, further explaining that the Holy Sacrament of Baptism has a beneficial influence not only in the life of the individual but can also change the fate of a whole nation.   “During the Patriarchal Synod of 2006, our Church came up with the slogan: ‘Holiness of God’s  People.’ The renewal of our vows, which we are doing for the third consecutive year and will continue to do in the following years, is a way in which we can begin to embody our slogan,” said His Beatitude Lubomyr. The practice of renewing vows of baptism began in 2007 during the Forum of Christian Youth, which took place August 18-19 in Kyiv.  After the Liturgy, there was a ceremonial procession to the river Dnipro to draw water to be blessed. Amongst the procession there were representatives from many different groups within the UGCC: priests, monks, nuns, laymen, and other participants of the holiday. After drawing water in the prepared vessels, participants brought it to the place where it would be blessed. Shortly afterwards, the renewal of vows took place. The large gathering of believers, in one unified voice, exclaimed that they: “Renounce Satan and all his deeds, and all his worship and all his angels, and all his pride,” followed by: “I am joining with Christ.” Towards the end of the celebration, the participants were blessed with holy Dnipro water. Afterwards, there was a concert with honorable artists of Ukraine Ivan Kavatsyuk and Oksana Savchuk (from the duet “Pysanka”). His Beatitude Lubomyr thanked the duet for “a large brick” which they helped to lay for the building of the Patriarchal cathedral through their fundraising efforts back in 2008 in the US.

Information Department of the UGCC