On November 17, on the eve of 1000 days since the beginning of large-scale Russian aggression, a joint prayer for peace in Ukraine was held in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius, led by the rector of the church, Mykola Ruslan Kozelkivskyi.
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Embassy of Ukraine in Lithuania on Facebook.
Ambassador of Ukraine Petro Beshta, who was present at the event, thanked the representatives of the Ukrainian community in Lithuania, Ukrainian citizens temporarily staying in Lithuania, and Lithuanian friends.
“A thousand days have passed since the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of our country. A thousand days of trials, pain and losses have united us in the struggle for a brighter future for Ukraine. Today we remember all those we have lost: military, civilians, children, foreign nationals who stood up to defend Ukraine... Today we also pray for our defenders who are defending the Ukrainian land and the democratic world from the Russian invasion. Volunteers, medics, rescuers - each of them is an example of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit,” the diplomat said.
The participants observed a minute of silence to honor the memory of all the victims.
The prayer was offered as part of the Sunday Divine Liturgy dedicated to St. Josaphat Kuntsevych, who took monastic vows in the Basilian Monastery in Vilnius and spent a significant part of his life there, as well as formed as a spiritual leader, developed his theological views and became one of the most influential figures of his time.
The Divine Liturgy was led by Fr Joseph Kralka, Protopriohegumen of the Province of the Most Holy Savior of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat, Ukraine.
Another significant event was the ceremony of consecration of a new stained glass window in honor of the first Lithuanian martyrs John, Anthony and Eustachius, which was funded with the direct assistance of the Ukrainian Community of Vilnius headed by Natalia Šertvienė.
The Church of the Holy Trinity is located in the center of the Old Town of Vilnius. It was built in 1514 alongside the bell tower by the Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Kostiantyn Ostrozky, in gratitude for the victory over the army of the Moscow Principality at Orsha.