On Wednesday, March 10, a prayer service for Ukraine was held in the Cathedral of the Lviv Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church with the participation of representatives of various Christian Churches (including the UGCC) and religions. The prayer was led by the special envoy of Pope Francis, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
Among the participants were: His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, Mieczysław Mokrzycki, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Lviv of the Roman Catholic Church Stepan Sus, Bishop of the Curia of the Major Archbishop, Metropolitan Dymytry of Lviv and Sokal of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Filaret of the Lviv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Armen, deacon of the Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Lviv, as well as representatives of Protestant and Jewish congregations.
“In this tragic time of war and human suffering, a time of despair over the loss of our dearest ones or from fleeing our homes, we desire to bring to our Heavenly Father a sincere common prayer for peace. That is why representatives of different religions and denominations gathered at the Lviv Cathedral,” mentioned Metropolitan Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
In his word of welcome, he thanked Cardinal Konrad Krajewski for his presence in Ukraine in this difficult and dangerous time of war.
During the common prayer, the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav prayed for Ukraine with these words:
“O God, Father almighty, Lord, Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and You, O Holy Spirit—one Divinity and one Power! Before Your eyes today we present the sorrow and pain of Ukraine. Mountains of corpses, rivers of blood, and seas of tears. We prayer for all those who gave up their lives for the homeland, for our army, for the sons and daughters of Ukraine, who shield lives with their own bodies in the face of the enemy. We pray for all those innocently killed peaceful people of Ukraine: women, children, the elderly. We pray for the victims of Mariupol who are being buried in massive common graves without Christian burial and honour. Receive our prayers for their eternal repose!”
“God of spirits and of all flesh, You trampled death, You made the devil powerless, and You gave life to Your world. Now, O Lord, to the souls of Your servants, who have fallen asleep, grant rest in a place of light, a place of verdure, and a place of tranquility, from which pain, sorrow and mourning have fled. As the good and loving God, forgive every sin of thought, word or deed committed. There is no one who will live and will not sin, for You alone are sinless. Your justice is everlasting justice and Your word is truth.”
Each representative from the Church and religious community read their prayer for peace in Ukraine.