The 55th Jubilee International Army Pilgrimage to Lourdes started from the garrison Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Lviv

A Celebratory Divine Liturgy, held on May 18, 2013 in the garrison Church of Saints Peter and Paul began the 55^th Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes.  The Liturgy was led by Bishop Mykhailo (Koltun), head of Patriarchal Curia Department of Pastoral Care for Armed Forces, together with Roman-Catholic Bishop Stanislaw Shyrokoradiuk.

Priests from UOC-KP and UOC-MP also joined the pilgrimage.  Participating in the prayer service were: an official delegation from Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, numbering some 102 representatives; the representatives of the internal army of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine; the State Penitentiary Services; State Border Services; students of the Petro Zahaydachny Lviv Academy of Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the management of the Department of Patriarchal Curia on Pastoral Care for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

During the sermon, the Army Bishop emphasized that this is already an 18^th official delegation from Ukraine to the Marian Center in Lourdes (France) where the Blessed Mother had appeared.  The delegation will leave Ukraine and travel through Ukrainian communities located in Munich, Rome, Lourdes and other cities which contain a significant number of Ukrainian residents.  On May 24^th, a celebratory beginning of the 55^th Army Pilgrimage to Lourdes will be held under the motto: “Lourdes: the Doors of Faith.”  The program foresees an audience with His Holy Father Francis, the Roman Pope.

Press Service Chaplaincy Department