Address by the Head of the UGCC for the 231 st Week of the Full-Scale War, July 19, 2026
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
This Sunday marks the 231st week of Russia’s full-scale invasion of our peaceful land.
This was yet another week of extremely fierce fighting. Every night, the enemy attacks our peaceful cities and villages. Our city of Odesa was especially affected this week. Unfortunately, there are casualties and many wounded. The enemy appears to have been systematically targeting the port infrastructure in southern Ukraine this week, attempting to cut off or halt this “corridor of life” through which Ukrainian grain is exported. Russia is attempting to obstruct navigation in the Black Sea.
However, this week we also witnessed many hopeful moments. Ukraine commemorated the gift of Holy Baptism for our people, honoring the memory of Prince Volodymyr, Equal to the Apostles. The mystery of the Holy Baptism has been a source of strength for all of us since the very founding of both our nation and our state. Therefore, every time the people seek the source of their own strength, every time they look for a place to draw new strength and energy to continue bearing witness to their resilience and to pursue the struggle for dignity and freedom, we once again revisit and renew our baptismal vows, drawing from that source of our dignity and freedom in Christ.
This week also marked exactly one year since the icon with the relics of Saint Volodymyr began its pilgrimage through our communities, parishes, and eparchies in Ukraine. It was precisely on the feast of Saint Volodymyr that this icon, containing the relics of our Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince, was venerated in the city of Stryi. A truly significant academic conference was held on the legacy of Saint Volodymyr’s baptism and our roots in the Church of Kyiv.
Also this week, some very important visits took place in Ukraine. We are especially grateful to Pope Leo for the two envoys who visited us this week.
A special envoy of the Pope, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, visited Ukraine on a specific mission to serve as a mediator on humanitarian issues between Ukraine and Russia. At the invitation of the Ukrainian side, our guest visited Russian prisoners of war to put pressure on the Russian side. We know that the Russians do not allow representatives of any international institutions to visit Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Ukraine wanted to demonstrate that we are complying with all the rules of international humanitarian law. Now let Russia try to prevent the Pope’s envoy from visiting our Ukrainian soldiers, and let it do everything in its power to ensure that our defenders—and the civilian hostages—return home as soon as possible. We are grateful to Pope Leo for all his work of mediation and for his efforts to secure the release of our heroes from Russian captivity.
Besides, this week, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who is the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, visited Ukraine. While staying in Ukraine, Archbishop Paul Gallagher met not only with government officials but also with the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. He then led the pilgrimage in Berdychiv, which is organized annually by our brothers of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine. He served as the Pope’s envoy, coming to give thanks to the Lord God for the 35-year restoration of the structures of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine.
Thus, the Day of our Baptism, the Day of our Statehood, and the Day of Remembrance of Saint Volodymyr was yet another manifestation of the European choice—the civilizational choice—that Prince Volodymyr made for our people and for our Church.
Thank you to the entire global community, particularly the world’s religious leaders, who united with us in prayer on this day. And we declare once again: Ukraine stands, Ukraine fights, Ukraine prays!
This Sunday, according to the liturgical calendar of our Church, is also a significant moment and an important time. Many of our young women and men, our soldiers, on the one hand, are trying to find time to restore their strength. This is the time of summer vacation. On the other hand, it is a time when our Church actively carries out its evangelizing mission. We want to serve our children, as well as all those who have suffered from the war, so that they may heal the wounds of war and regain their strength.
I want to thank all our priests and nuns who have opened their monasteries to the children. We are grateful to all those in our parishes who are running a special summer program called “Vacation with God.”
Children are drawn to their Mother Church. During these pilgrimages and through various summer opportunities our Church provides, we truly wish to embrace everyone seeking healing and spiritual renewal.
We ask that the Lord God bless our children, our parents, and all those who are working today to ensure that even a summer vacation becomes a time of spiritual growth and healing from the wounds of war.
Lord, bless our people! Lord, stop the war! God, bless our land, our homeland, and the children of Ukraine with Your just, heavenly peace.
The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and forever, and for the ages of ages. Amen.
