Youth pilgrimage to Vyshgorod

Every year in September a youth pilgrimage to Vyshgorod is held. This year the pilgrimage included a bicycle route. The bicycle pilgrimage began in the city Irpin and 20 bicycle pilgrims rode 40 km. The pedestrian pilgrimage started in Kyiv and all pilgrims met in the town of Vyshhorod. After the arrival, testimonial prayer in the church, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated. Night vigils, a procession with candles, ceremony of mutual forgiveness, and a bonfire followed. On Sunday morning there was a Large Matin. Afterward, Bishop Joseph (Milyan), together with other priests, led a Liturgy and blessed water. Then a festive concert glorifying God was held. In addition, on Sunday September 12 near the Cathedral of the Vyshhorod Mother of God the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church held a symbolic art action “Paint a Planet.” Greek Catholics and all interested persons painted a large map of Earth as gratitude to God for the creation of the world and the gift of life. "Paint the Planet" was one of the events of the celebration of the World Ecology Day of the Creator. The organizers of the event stress that they want to thank God for life on Earth and to pray for the conservation of nature. “God created human and assigned it to care for nature, for animals which inhabit the planet, and to take care does not mean to have the power to destroy it, which so often happens. Modern ecological problems are not limited to isolated regions or countries. They have a greater, and sometimes even a global, dimension: for example, the contamination of water or climate change caused by deforestation or nuclear catastrophes. It is very important that everyone understands their responsibility to protect the planet,” said organizer, head of Patriarchal Commission UGCC for Promoting Unity between Christians, Fr. Ihor Shaban, Ph.D. 

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