Reps of Five Denominations Pray for Ukrainian Military

As part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an ecumenical prayer of Christian military men was held on January 22, in the Kyiv Garrison Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate. The prayer was attended by members of the Council for Pastoral Care instituted by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the press service of the Department of Chaplaincy of UGCC reported.

The senior priest of the Garrison Church, Fr. Dymytrii Sadoviak of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, greeted the participants, including representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, interior troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine. The protopriest noted that the military and chaplains have prayed together for five years in a row during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Church of UOC-KP has been chosen to hold the ecumenical prayer for the second time.

The head of the council, Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk of the Roman Catholic Church, greeted the participants on Christmas and thanked the members of the council for their unity at the joint prayer meeting.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was represented by the whole Department of the Patriarchal Curia for Pastoral Care in the Armed Forces of Ukraine led by Bishop Mykhail Koltun. The military bishop stressed the importance of the ecumenical events which, according to him, are especially necessary for Ukraine

“We do a lot jointly with other Christian denominations in order to unite our efforts for the good of the Ukrainian nation and army. However, we still pray separately for some reason,” said the bishop.

Five Christian denominations and religious organizations prayed together. In total, approximately 300 military men and law enforcement officers participated in the event.