Ukrainian Day of Prayer for Orphans Unites 18,000 Christian Communities

Across Ukraine, and for the first time in Kyiv Cave Monastery, a prayer for orphans was held on November 10. The event brought together 18,000 Christian communities of different faiths.

Kyivans had the opportunity to join the first national Ukrainian event in the Holy Dormition Cathedral, located in the Kyiv Cave Monastery. This year’s event at the Kyiv Cave Monastery was blessed by Metropolitan Volodymyr of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-MP and the prayer was led by the monastery’s superior Bishop Pavel, said Roman Korniyko, president of the Alliance for Ukraine without Orphans and the main organizer of a national prayer for the orphans.

“This day is special because representatives of different Christian denominations unite in prayer for a better life for orphans. Everyone who sincerely asks God to help orphans already opens their minds to meet them, will live this social problem. I believe that this will help to improve the fate of all children,” said Korniyko before the event.

According to the organizers, each community took the responsibility to care for at least one child who has no family. It should not be forced adoption, merely helping orphans have a better future and helping in his or her development.

One hundred and twenty orphans, as well as many families who previously took responsibility and become parents for the children, joined the prayer in the monastery.

Dozens of deputies, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, were invited to the event, but most of them were unable to come. However, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Yurii Pavlenko attended and he prayed with the faithful of Holy Protection Church in Lutsk.

Orphans were able to join to the prayer, and afterwards were blessed by Bishop Pavel. Also, the children released into the sky dozens of balloons to which were attached notes with their prayers.

As noted by the organizers, this year's national prayer for orphans gathered almost twice as many religious communities as last year (there were 10,000). “We hope that this action will have practical implications for all children who dream and wait for their new parents,” said Korniyko.