A Book of His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s Addresses from the First Year of the Great War Presented in Chicago
On December 22, 2024, the Ukrainian edition of the book of His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s daily addresses from the first year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine was presented at the parish of Saints Volodymyr and Olha in Chicago (USA). The book is entitled “Ukraine Stands! Ukraine Fights! Ukraine Prays!”.
The Word of His Beatitude Sviatoslav
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, joined the event via video link from Kyiv. He emphasized that this book serves as a diary of war, created during Ukraine’s most challenging period.
“This is a book that should not have existed. It was born out of war—a war that compelled all of us to seek new ways to serve God and our people. People worldwide, even in occupied territories, were searching for the voice of the Church. And then, the voice of our Church rang like the bell of St. Sophia of Kyiv, reverberating across the globe, announcing our resilience and life,” said the Head of the UGCC.
The daily messages, originally recorded in video format, were translated by volunteers into six foreign languages and broadcast on TV channels across various European countries. Eventually, the idea to publish these messages as a book came to fruition. The Kyiv-based Komora Publishing House produced the book, which was printed in Kharkiv amidst the city’s heavy shelling.
“Ukrainian books printed in Kharkiv during the war were often targeted by the enemy. Many were burned. I thought this one might not survive either. But today, it has made its way from Kharkiv through Kyiv to Ukrainian Chicago,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The foreword was written by Oksana Zabuzhko, and the afterword by Timothy Snyder.
The Distinct Role of the Parish
The parish of Saints Volodymyr and Olha hosted the presentation as it sponsored the book’s publication. The Head of the UGCC expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the rector, Fr. Oleh Kryvokulsky, the parish priests, and the entire active community for their generosity.
“Thank you very much for your support! This gives your parish the exclusive right to distribute the book in the United States,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted, “This book has no end because the war continues. We stand together, fight, and pray for Ukraine to see the day of victory, and for the word of the Church to become a word of greeting. Ukraine stands! Ukraine fights! Ukraine prays! And Ukraine will win!”
He concluded by extending his greetings for the Nativity of Christ and the upcoming New Year, emphasizing that 2025 will be the Jubilee Year of Hope.
An Artistic Touch
The event featured an artistic performance inspired by the book. The renowned Ukrainian artists, the Telniuk Sisters, presented an art project based on the book, delivering an emphatic culmination to the evening.
The UGCC Department for Information
