His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Bucha: praying for the innocent Ukrainians killed

Friday, 08 April 2022, 21:03

On Thursday, April 7, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, travelled to Irpin, Bucha and Hostomel, towns recently liberated from Russian occupation. In Irpin, the Primate visited the UGCC Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, and in Bucha, he prayed a panaxyda memorial service over one of the mass graves of innocent Ukrainians killed by the occupiers.

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"It’s very difficult to even speak. Their blood cries out from this place, from this earth, to heaven. And a Christian heart, a good ear, must hear that blood’s cry. Why has this happened? For what? It’s clear that these are young people, whose lives were taken. We came here to pray for their eternal peace," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav after the panaxyda in Bucha, adding that it is important for not only Ukraine, but the whole world, to feel this pain.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that he is also praying for justice, because "if this sin is not condemned, if this crime is not exposed, it could be repeated… Each of us could be lying in this mass grave," he said.

"May the Lord God rest the souls of His innocent slain servants, may He save lives, may He protect Ukraine from those criminals who have come to kill, plunder and destroy. Eternal memory to the innocent victims!" -- added the Primate.

In Irpin, His Beatitude Sviatoslav visited the Greek Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, which was damaged by Russian troops. Standing near the church, the hierarch prayed the prayer to the Mother of God "Under Your Protection of Grace" (Pid Tvoju mylist’).

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Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel - April 7

His Beatitude Sviatoslav visited Irpin, Bucha and Hostomel, towns recently liberated from Russian occupation. In Irpin, the Primate visited the UGCC Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, while in Bucha, he prayed a panaxyda memorial service over one of the mass graves of innocent Ukrainians killed by the occupiers.

Photo: Oleksandr Savransky

It is widely known that following the liberation from Russian occupation, hundreds of bodies of tortured civilians and dozens of mass graves were found in many towns and cities around Kyiv, including Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, Motyzhyn, and Borodyanka. According to Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk, in Bucha alone, nearly 300 people were buried in mass graves, and dozens of corpses lay on the city's ruined streets, some with their hands tied.

Information Department of the UGCC