The Head of the UGCC: With the prayer of intercession to Kyiv Oranta we pray for the victory of Ukraine
In the homily during the Prayer, which is broadcast daily on Zhyve.TV during the war at 12:00, the Primate drew attention to how special this prayer sounds in Kyiv in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. According to him, a very long curfew was imposed in the capital on this day, more than a day, as a result of which the life of the city is paralyzed, and our Patriarchal Cathedral is located a few tens of kilometers from active hostilities.
“I am especially pleased, the Head of the Church emphasized, to see our military chaplains, who came here from the occupied cities, from the front line today in a strange way, by God's providence, so that we can experience the moment of a common prayer.
“Today, our Patriarchal Cathedral is a special image of the Mother Church, the Protecting Church, the Teacher Church, the Nursing Church, because under it, in the crypts, there is a place where tens, hundreds of Kyiv citizens find refuge, especially during air strikes”, he mentioned. This church, the Head of the UGCC continued, is a center of special social service, where everyone in need can receive appropriate assistance.
“Here the Mother Church prays for her children, embraces them under her wings, protects and nourishes them, and most importantly, a special blessing comes from here, from our Patriarchal Council. Here, in our crypts, His Beatitude Lubomyr rests - a special prayerful person for our people, our Church and State”, His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized.
The preacher called on all the faithful to pray the prayer of intercession during the war. According to him, such a prayer during the war has a special power and significance. And we, the children of Ukraine, have a special need for it. Since the prayer of intercession is the spiritual protection we ask of the Lord for those in greatest danger.
“In this prayer we pray for others: mother prays the children, a priest for the parish, a bishop for his diocese, and all of us together for Ukraine. With a prayer of intercession we pray for the victory of Ukraine, - he explained and emphasized: - We know that the victory of Ukraine is the victory of good over evil, the power of God over the meanness and greed of the invader. Victory is already beginning, and we can feel it, experience it, even during this prayer today”.
The Supreme Archbishop recalled that Kyiv has a special tradition of such prayer and told the famous ancient princely belief about the Kyiv Oranta: "Kyiv Oranta is also called the Indestructible Wall. This ancient mosaic of the 11th century demonstrates us the Blessed Virgin Mary in the full-length with her hands raised in prayer. It is an icon of the prayer of intercession. The Mother of God has always raised her hands continuously in prayer over her people".
The Head of the Church explained that with the current prayer, joining the Immovable Wall, our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Ukrainian people are preparing for a special event which takes place on Friday: the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Archbishop recalled the request of the Mother of God for the prayer for the conversion of Russia, proclaimed in the Revelation of Fatima, and stressed that this very moment the Holy Father wants to pay attention to the request of the Mother of God for consecration to overcome evil coming to our lands. He also recalled that Ukraine was consecrated to the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who built the Saint Sophia and created a mosaic of the Immovable Wall. Then he consecrated his city, his people and his State to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“When the war in eastern Ukraine began, on April 6, 2014, we renewed this consecration of our people and state to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the enemy was stopped by the power of God's truth and His light”, the preacher added.
“May evil be defeated in the north and south, west and east of Ukraine. We know that the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a symbol of her holy and pure will. May this consecration be the moment when the head of the serpent will be removed again by the power of a prayer of the Mother of God herself, the Kyiv Immovable Wall”, wished the Head of the UGCC.
