“Lord, we stand before Your face and thank You for the gift of the state to our free people”: Head of the UGCC in St. Sophia
On Independence Day, an ecumenical prayer for Ukraine took place at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv with the President of Ukraine and his wife in attendance. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, and representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations participated in the prayer.
Prayer for Ukraine in St. Sophia, August 24, 2023, photo: president.gov.ua
The communal prayer began with the Our Father prayer performed by a chamber choir. Then, each of the religious leaders said a prayer.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav offered the following prayer for Ukraine:
“Father Almighty, Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son and Holy Spirit! One Deity and one Power! Today, we stand before Your face in unity and thank You for the gift of freedom, independence, and a state for our free people. Father, we beseech You: protect our people, bless Ukraine, send Your angels of light to help and support our army, and make our soldiers warriors of peace, life, and freedom! Lord, we ask You to rescue the hostages — all those who are in Russian captivity, in the occupied territories, heal the wounded, find the missing. Lord, bring home all those who have been scattered and dispersed from their homeland by this war!
Mother of God, Immovable Wall, Oranta of Kyiv, shield our government, military command, army, and people! Most Holy Mother of God, ask our Heavenly Father, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit for the gift of just peace for our long-suffering Motherland! Amen.”
After that, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the clergy for their prayers and words of support and congratulated them on the Independence Day of Ukraine, wishing “victory to all of us.”
The prayer ended with the performance of the spiritual hymn of Ukraine, “Lord, Great and Almighty One.”
The UGCC Department for Information
