Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh venerates relics during the Days of the Holy Chiton in Germany
On April 21, the Days of the Holy Chiton, which, according to tradition, belonged to Jesus and is kept in this cathedral thanks to a gift from St. Helen, began in the Cathedral of St. Peter in Trier, (Germany).
On this occasion, local Bishop Stefan Ackermann presided over the liturgy with the auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of Trier, Bishop Helmut Dieser of Aachen, and the Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians of the Byzantine Rite in Germany and Scandinavia, Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh.
Bishop Stefan greeted the Ukrainian bishop and assured him of enduring solidarity with the Ukrainian people in this unjust war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine.
After the Liturgy, the bishops discussed the current situation in Ukraine and the role of the Churches in serving those in need and achieving a just peace.
Prayer vigils started in the evening with a choir of boys and young men from Speyer performing.
The prayerful reflections that evening were led by Bishop Helmut Dieser, who spoke about the Christian joy brought by the Risen Savior, building his contemplations around the figures of the Risen Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Mary Magdalene, who was the first to meet the Risen One.
Standing in front of the Reliquary, which preserves one of the most significant shrines of the Christian world, the chiton of Jesus Christ, Bishop Bohdan prayed for strength and protection for the Ukrainian military and the gift of peace for the people of Ukraine.
“Lord, overcome the anger and aggression of the crucifiers of our people! May the violence and bloodshed in our land come to an end! Heal our bodily and spiritual wounds!” the bishop shared his prayer to God on his Facebook page.
The UGCC Department for Informationbased on the materials of the Apostolic exarchate in Germany and Scandinavia
