On June 22nd, the Day of Remembrance and Commemoration of the Victims of War, the Redemptorists invite everyone to participate in a day of prayer vigil called "24 Hours We Are with You," with the intention of liberating Ukrainian prisoners, including Hieromonks Ivan (Levitsky) and Bohdan (Heleta) of the UGCC.
This information was reported by Lviv's Spiritual Grandeur.
"For eight months now, our Redemptorist fathers, Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Heleta, have been held captive by the Russian aggressors. We believe in the power of collective prayer. We invite laypeople, consecrated individuals, and priests to unite with those who pray in prison captivity. Most Holy Savior, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us! Liberate and bring back those who are held captive. Stop the terror of war and grant victory and peace to Ukraine!" stated Hieromonk Mykhailo (Ivanyak) on his Facebook page.
Anyone who wishes can join in the prayer. All you need to do is choose a convenient time and spend 30 minutes in prayer during the course of the day, such as reading Psalms, the Akathist, the Rosary, or any other prayer. You can participate in multiple prayer sessions throughout the day. The schedule can be followed on the Panda Redemptor Facebook page.
To recall, in November 2022, the illegal "administration" in the temporarily occupied territories arrested two priests on charges of possessing weapons and explosives and alleged "subversive" and "guerrilla" activities. One of them is Hieromonk Ivan (Levitsky) of the UGCC, the former rector of the St. Josaphat Church and the monastery of St. Alphonsus of the Redemptorist Congregation in Lviv.
Hieromonk Ivan (Levitsky) served as the rector of the well-known St. Josaphat Church on Zamarstynivska Street in Lviv from 2015 to 2019, as well as the rector of the St. Alphonsus monastery of the Redemptorist Fathers. According to the faithful, he was known for his deep sacrificial service in the Church. After completing his service in Lviv, he conducted missions for the Redemptorist Fathers in Berdiansk, Zaporizhia Oblast.