The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Brazil Restores the Tradition of Icon Veneration in Ukrainian Families
In the Archeparchy of São João Batista in Curitiba, an icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary has been painted, and copies of it will soon be placed in the homes of Ukrainian families in Brazil. The initiative seeks to revive the tradition of family prayer and veneration that dates back to the first Ukrainian immigrants who settled in Brazil more than a century ago.
The icon, commissioned by the Metropolia, was painted by iconographer Karyn Sayuri. It was solemnly consecrated at the end of August this year during the annual retreat of the “Apostolate of Prayer.”
As noted by the Curitiba Metropolia, Ukrainians who arrived in Brazil more than a century ago established centers of the “Apostolate of Prayer.” Far from their homeland, this spirituality became an important part of life for the Ukrainian diaspora. Today, they wish to continue this tradition by bringing family prayer before images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary back into Ukrainian homes.
After the icon has been blessed in the church, a family will be able to solemnly place it in their home and celebrate its “enthronement,” entrusting their home to the care of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Metropolia also emphasizes that venerating the icon does not mean worshiping the wood, paint, or the image itself. The veneration offered to the icon is directed first and foremost toward the person it represents.
“An icon is not merely a work of art or a decorative image. Through colors, gestures, inscriptions, and other compositional elements, it presents to the faithful a reality that transcends what the eyes can see and leads them to contemplation and prayer. Thus, the tradition of ecclesiastical veneration enters the sphere of the Ukrainian family and becomes part of its daily prayer life,” the Metropolia notes.
