His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, made an appeal to the faithful on July 15, the day dedicated to the remembrance of St. Volodymyr the Great. He encouraged them to renew their baptismal vows as a way to strengthen their spiritual unity with God and to draw strength for the challenges facing modern Ukraine.
Source: UGCC Department for Information
“In Baptism and Confirmation, we are born again — of water and the Holy Spirit. This is not just a religious rite; it is an event that transforms the very nature of humanity. We become children of God, entering into a new life in Christ,” said the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
He noted that during Baptism, which typically occurs in childhood, godparents make a covenant with God on behalf of the baptized. This promise involves serving Christ, renouncing evil, and living according to the Gospel.
“We were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the Lord accepted us into His divine family. We became His, and He became ours. This mutual belonging lays the foundation of our Christian identity,” emphasized the Head of the Church.
Reflecting on the historic event of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine under Prince Volodymyr, His Beatitude Sviatoslav highlighted its profound spiritual significance in addition to its historical context:
"When the people of Kyiv entered the waters of the Dnipro in 988, they emerged as one people of God. Through this baptism, the Ukrainian Christian community was born; it was our national birth in Christ," he said.
The Head of the UGCC stated that renewing baptismal vows today is not only an individual act of faith but also a pathway to national spiritual renewal.
“By renewing our baptismal vows today, we are reaffirming our national dedication to God. This commitment is the source of strength, unity, and hope for victory and the restoration of Ukraine,” he emphasized.
The text of the Rite of Renewal of Baptismal Vows can be found here.
The UGCC also announced that on July 15, the icon and relics of St. Volodymyr, Equal to the Apostles, will be displayed for public veneration at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. This will be a significant spiritual moment and a symbol of the unity of generations of believers in faith and devotion to Christ. The event will take place as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the revival of the structures of the Kyiv Metropolis and the 20th anniversary of the return of the seat of the Head of the UGCC to Kyiv. The event will be broadcast live on television.