More than four hundred thousand worshippers took part in UGCC prayer vigil for peace

Tuesday, 01 February 2022, 18:19

Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the initiative of Pope Francis, became World Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine and the world. The Holy Father proclaimed it after Angelus Prayer on Sunday.

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Prayers for peace took place in different countries, on all continents with the participation of the entire Catholic Church. This day the UGCC hosted an all-day prayer vigil, which was attended by UGCC metropolises from all over the world.

The online prayer marathon lasted on Zhyve.TV for 12 hours - from 9:00 am to 9.00 pm. Overall, about half a million believers took part in it.

After Pope Francis called for a Day of Prayer for Peace, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC addressed the faithful with an invitation to join this prayer vigil, the spiritual guardian of peace in Ukraine: “World prayer is a moment of special spiritual guard to which Pope Francis calls us today. I call on all the children of our Church to join the prayer of spiritual guard wherever you are. I am asking you to pray for Ukraine. May the Lord hear our prayers! My He accept our prayers! May fasting and penance be stronger than any modern weapon! May God let peace descend on Ukraine and on the whole world!”

Services were broadcast live from around UGCC churches in Ukraine: Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zarvanytsia Marian Spiritual Center, Melbourne, Paris, Rome, London, Przemyśl, Philadelphia and Winnipeg.

The prayer vigil was attended by clergy and laypeople, as well as students and teachers of Catholic universities, academies and seminaries.

Ukraine was supported by Catholic bishops in their appeals throughout Europe: Italy, Poland and Ukraine in particular, as well as America, including the United States, Canada and Brazil.

Molebens with the participation of Roman Catholic bishops took place in the churches of Kyiv and London. The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas led the prayer for peace in St. Alexander's Church in Kyiv.

In the appeals made by bishops of the UGCC on the occasion of the Day of Prayer for Peace in Ukraine and the World, adding to words about the power of faith and prayer, there was a statement that the war in Ukraine could be the beginning of a larger military confrontation. The world's attention is once again drawn to Ukraine, which is threatened by a full-scale invasion.

12-hour online prayer marathon of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on Zhyve.TV on Facebook and YouTube with live broadcasts of services from around the world was held for the first time.

At the end of the day of prayer for peace in Ukraine and the world, the Father and Head of the UGCC thanked everyone for participating in the prayer and, particularly, Pope Francis for understanding the difficult situation in Ukraine and calling for the whole world to spiritually support Ukraine and Ukrainian people.

“Pope Francis did not just call, but was a participant in this prayer. He personally prayed "Our Father" and asked everyone to say this prayer many times a day”, the Major Archbishop said.

He also added that even though the all-day prayer vigil of the UGCC has come to an end, the day of prayer, fasting and repentance for peace in Ukraine is continuing.

The UGCC Department for Information