February 24 - National Day of Prayer for Ukraine
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported draft Resolution No. 12412, which chose February 24 as the National Day of Prayer for Ukraine. This date has a symbolic meaning, as on this day in 2022, Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine began.
According to the text of the resolution, the National Day of Prayer aims to strengthen national unity, consolidate society, and raise the moral and patriotic spirit of Ukrainians. The authors of the document note that common prayer is not only a spiritual practice but also a supernatural power for victory. It will be a testament to the spiritual unity of the Ukrainian people and a symbol of our unwavering faith in victory.
Today, the session of the Verkhovna Rada was opened with the performance of the spiritual anthem of Ukraine, the Prayer for Ukraine (“Lord, oh the Great and Almighty”). Ukrainian churches pray for the Homeland.
The idea of establishing a National Day of Prayer in Ukraine was inspired by international traditions when prayer became a powerful tool for uniting nations in trying times.
The initiators of the National Day of Prayer recalled that four days after Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940, he approved a national day of prayer.
In the United States, on June 6, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt called on his fellow citizens to join him in prayer on live radio when American troops landed in Normandy. The text of the prayer was published in advance so that Americans could recite it with him.
In the United States of America, the National Day of Prayer was established by a congressional resolution signed by President Harry Truman. The National Day of Prayer in the United States was established as a day on which people should “turn to God in prayer and meditation.”
Prayer played an important role in the unity of Ukrainian society during the war with Russia. After the start of the full-scale invasion, prayers for Ukraine were heard around the world, which contributed to maintaining national resilience.
According to its initiators, a joint prayer on the National Day of Prayer will protect Ukraine and those fighting on the battlefield; it will be a testament to the spiritual unity of the Ukrainian people and a symbol of their unwavering faith in victory.
The celebration of this day should help strengthen the patriotic spirit, preserve the spiritual heritage and consolidate Ukrainian society.
