Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, president of the Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe, and Bishop Borys Gudziak, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the UGCC of Philadelphia, held a prayer for peace in Ukraine on July 19, during which they commemorated the victims of Russia's war against Ukraine.
Together with the hierarchs, the parish of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos of the UGCC in Irpin was also visited by Tatiana Stavnycha, president of Caritas-Ukraine, archpriest Roman Syrotych, director of the charity foundation Caritas-Kyiv, and archpriest Vasyl Chudyevich, Chancellor of the UGCC Archdiocese of Kyiv. This is reported by the UGCC Information Department.
The purpose of the visit, as the guests noted, was to see with their own eyes the destroyed towns and the consequences of their occupation by Russian troops, to communicate with residents who survived the occupation and torture from representatives of the Russian World, to show their support, both spiritual and physical, and, most importantly, to once again tell the world the truth about this terrible war in Ukraine.
The Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was led by Metropolitan Borys Gudziak. In his speech, the hierarch addressed the audience with words of hope, urging them to endure difficult times together, traveling to the cherished victory and peace.
As a sign of solidarity and commemoration of the Common Prayer, Bishop Borys and Archbishop Gintaras handed over the Icon of the Mother of God of Zarvanytsia to the church. In turn, the rector of the community, archpriest Miroslav Latynnik, presented the guests with the book "Rhymed Irpin".
The guests also visited the church bomb shelter, where the first weeks of the war, together with the church's priests, parishioners and residents of the city, hid from Russian bombs.
On the same day, many residents of the city who lost their homes and property were once again distributed sets with warm clothes and products from "Caritas Ukraine", "Caritas-Kyiv", and "Caritas-Irpin". Each of those present could communicate with bishops and priests, talk about their sorrows and receive words of support and blessing.
After that, the foreign delegation visited the streets of the cities of Irpin and Bucha and saw with their own eyes the destroyed houses and burned cars. On the Walk of Fame of the municipal cemetery of Irpin and at the places of mass graves in Bucha, the clergy prayed for the repose of the souls of innocent Ukrainians killed.