This is stated in the Address of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Galicia Major Archeparchy of the UGCC to the faithful, Ukrainian politicians and all people of goodwill concerning the electoral process in Ukraine, reports the Information Department of the UGCC.
Bishops of the Synod of the Kyiv-Galicia Major Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, while in Zarvanytsia, proclaimed a period of intensified prayer for fair and just elections in 2019.
This is stated in the Address of the Synod of Bishops of the Kyiv-Galicia Major Archeparchy of the UGCC to the faithful, Ukrainian politicians and all people of goodwill concerning the electoral process in Ukraine, reports the Information Department of the UGCC.
At the same time, the Fathers of the Church urge pastors, monastics and faithful laity of the UGCC to pray, individually and collectively, for the upcoming elections.
The bishops are asked to add prayers for the 2019 elections to the everyday prayers for Ukraine held at 21:00. After each Sunday and festive Liturgy, before the prayer “God, the Great, the One,” we encourage to jointly say the prayers "Our Father", "The Virgin" and "Glory to the Father ...” for the honest and just elections in Ukraine next year.
The bishops substantiate their appeal by the fact that less than a year is left before the next election of the President of Ukraine and a little more than a year before the election of new members of the supreme legislative body of our state - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. “However, today we are seeing how society is drawn into a new round of election races, inter-party discussions and polemics, so that as a result of political confrontation, the main principles of statehood of our people are under threat,” the statement reads.
According to the Bishops, these elections will be a manifestation or maturity and responsibility, or, conversely, infantilism and frivolity of us as voters and citizens. In both cases, the implications for the country and its future will be very important.
“Therefore, being aware of our responsibility before the Lord and our people, as believers, we seek to get ready to make a mature choice with a humble and persistent prayer to God, praying Him to grant His people the gift of His Holy Spirit, so that He enlightened us and directed on the path of truth, wisdom and true goodness. We believe that the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, teaches us to distinguish good from evil, truth from falsehood, true values from evil adulation. There is no doubt that the forces of evil will try to regain their lost positions, and at the same time they will not neglect any of the dirtiest and meanest methods,” the Synod's address says.