On June 28, in Kyiv, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of the UGCC, the “Faith and Light” community in Ukraine celebrated its 25th anniversary with the blessing of Patriarch Sviatoslav.
On June 28, in Kyiv, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of the UGCC, the “Faith and Light” community in Ukraine celebrated its 25th anniversary with the blessing of Patriarch Sviatoslav.
It was reported by the Department of Information of the UGCC.
“Faith and Light” is an international Christian community for people with intellectual disabilities, their families and young people.
In his greetings to the community members, the Patriarch of the UGCC has noted that “Faith and Light” is the meeting place with the affectionate, merciful God, the God of love, who loved us even before our birth, even before the very creation of the world. His beauty and miracle-working are manifested in every man as in the work of God.”
As reported, in Ukraine the first community of "Faith and Light" was set up in 1992, in Lviv. The movement originated at the international level in 1971 in France during the international pilgrimage to Lourdes, organized by Jean Vanier and Mary Hélène Mathieu. In this pilgrimage, people with intellectual disabilities from different countries, their parents and young people participated.
In Ukraine, the “Faith and Light” includes 28 communities in 13 cities of Ukraine - Lviv, Kyiv, Zhovkva, Ternopil, Tyachiv, Khust, Uzhgorod, Kamyanets-Podilsky, Zhytomyr, Truskavets, Stryi, Kohavyno, Novy Rozdol.
The total number of members is about 600 people. The thematic community meetings are held on a monthly basis, as well as a joint Liturgy, prayer with a prayer rope, craftsmanship, meeting of coordination groups and mutual visits to community members. The “Faith and Light” movement also organizes summer camps for leisure, pilgrimages (Krekhiv, Zarvanitsa), multiple spiritual recollections (Novoyavorivsk, Krekhiv, Bryukhovichi, Yazlivets, Dora, Berehy, etc.), formation and training for youth volunteers, jubilee celebrations (the 5th anniversary of the "Faith and Light" movement in Ukraine – Bryukhovychi, the 10th anniversary and the 15th anniversary – Lviv Opera House, Yavorivskyi shooting-range).