On the feast day of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr according to the Julian calendar, which falls on July 28, Ukraine will celebrate the 1035th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine.
On this occasion, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), His Beatitude Sviatoslav, urged the faithful to renew their baptismal vows, as reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.
"Every year, on the commemoration day of our nation's Baptism, we call on the sons and daughters of Ukraine, the faithful of our Church, to come to the churches and renew their baptismal vows, the promises made by our godparents on our behalf when they brought us to receive the Sacrament of Baptism," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in a video message this week.
Given the circumstances of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, it is especially important to renew our dedication to Christ, as we are in great need of God's strength, which can accomplish what is impossible for human power alone. By renewing our baptismal vows, we will feel that God's power, capable of overcoming, pulsates within the body of our nation and our Church.
You can find the text of the Rite of Renewal of Baptismal Vows here.
In Ukraine, recently, the Feast of Saint Volodymyr has also been celebrated as the Day of Ukrainian Statehood. According to the calendar reform, from the following year, these two holidays will be observed on July 15.