The Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora congratulated the clergy and faithful in the United States, South America, Australia, Western Europe, and Ukraine on the 34th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. The bishops urge all priests, faithful, and all people of good will to join in a united prayer for Ukraine on August 24, 2025.
"This day is a sacred occasion of remembrance, thanksgiving, and renewed hope. We glorify God for the divine gift of freedom granted to our ancestral homeland, and we give thanks for the perseverance and spiritual courage of the Ukrainian people - past and present - who have carried the torch of faith and nationhood through trials, persecutions, and wars.
The independence of Ukraine is not merely a political milestone; it is the fruit of centuries of suffering and sacrifice. From the baptism of Kyivan Rus’ by Saint Volodymyr the Great in 988, the Ukrainian Christian identity has been rooted in the eternal truth of the Gospel. Through centuries of foreign domination and attempts to erase both language and faith, this identity endured - firm, prayerful, and unbroken.
Waves of Ukrainian emigration brought this sacred inheritance to new lands. Our ancestors built churches not as memorials of the past, but as spiritual homes for generations yet to come. From the golden domes of Kyiv to the towns of the American Midwest, from the mountains of South America to the suburbs of Western Europe, the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful have remained united in Christ, upholding the mission of the Church and bearing witness to the truth of the Resurrection.
Today, this witness takes on renewed meaning. As Ukraine suffers under the brutal aggression of the Russian Federation, we are reminded again that freedom must be protected - not only by force of arms, but by the strength of spirit, by moral clarity, and by prayer.
We lift up our voices in intercession for the men and women of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who sacrifice to protect their homeland and the God-given dignity of human life. We pray for the innocent—those wounded, displaced, orphaned, and grieving. And we offer heartfelt gratitude to the many nations, churches, and individuals who have embraced Ukrainian refugees and provided shelter, hope, and solidarity.
In this solemn and sacred time, we issue an earnest invitation to all clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora, and to all people of goodwill: Join us in a global prayer for Ukraine on August 24, 2025.
On the anniversary of independence, the Church in Ukraine will raise prayers across the land. Let us unite our hearts and voices with theirs - from churches and chapels, homes and monasteries, across every continent - pleading with the Lord for:
Let us not merely commemorate, but live our mission - as Orthodox Christians, as Ukrainians, as children of God - called to be peacemakers, bearers of light, and guardians of memory. May our prayers become a stream of grace flowing into every wounded village, every grieving heart, and every soul longing for hope," reads the statement of the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Diaspora.