Ceremonial Stamp Cancellation and Booklet Presentation Dedicated to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Take Place in the Vatican
On Thursday, February 26, a ceremonial presentation of a new postage stamp of the Vatican State dedicated to three important events in the life of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was held at the Vatican Museums with the participation of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
In addition to the Head of the UGCC, Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Father Felice Bruno, Head of the Vatican Postal and Philatelic Service, as well as Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, Apostolic Administrator of the Exarchate in Italy, and Bishop Iryney Bilyk, Bishop Emeritus and Canon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Among those in attendance were representatives of twenty diplomatic missions to the Holy See, numerous clergy, Church and civic organizations, and journalists.
The issue of the postage stamp is dedicated to three anniversary events: the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the 20th anniversary of the return of the seat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to Kyiv, and the 12th anniversary of the consecration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in the capital of Ukraine. It depicts the contours of the cathedral’s facade in the evening twilight during a blackout—as a sign of the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, this stamp also “reminds us of the history of the martyrdom of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church,” which has endured persecution and rebirth.
Opening the presentation, Father Felice Bruno, Head of the Vatican Postal and Philatelic Service, noted that with this issue, Vatican City State seeks to “express its closeness and love for the Church, which has suffered persecution and trials for centuries and has been burdened by a cruel and inhuman war for the past four years.”
Following this, His Beatitude Sviatoslav called the event a ‘moment of great consolation’ for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: “We truly feel the embrace of the Holy See through its special attention to our history and our lives at this tragic moment of war. It is God’s providence that this event is taking place as Ukraine marks the fourth year of the full-scale war,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted.
The Head of the UGCC briefly outlined the historical path of the Kyiv Metropolia—from the baptism of Rus-Ukraine in 988, through its liquidation in the Russian Empire in 1839, to its revival after Ukraine gained independence. He also recalled that after returning to Kyiv, the UGCC did not receive any of its former churches and built a new cathedral, which, after its consecration on August 18, 2013, became a home and refuge for thousands of people — both during the Revolution of Dignity and now during the years of war.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav elaborated on the symbolism of the stamp, emphasizing the image of the cathedral standing in the darkness of the blackout, yet illuminated by the evening sky. “The cathedral, dedicated to the Resurrection, carries within it a light that never goes out — the light of the Risen Christ. This light is a memory and today’s reality, and also a hope for the future,” he emphasized.
“We in Ukraine have hope precisely because we believe in the Resurrection. This is the message that our council, as well as this stamp presented today, must convey to humanity, ravaged by numerous conflicts and wars,” concluded the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, spoke on behalf of the Governorate at the event. He emphasized that the issuing of the stamp is “a sign of gratitude for the bond that unites us in our faith in God and in our shared commitment to the universal values of peace and brotherhood.”
According to him, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ depicted on the stamp is a symbol of strength and hope, a sign of the light of Christ’s faith, “which never fades.”
He also recalled the difficult history of the UGCC, which for decades was persecuted and functioned underground, emphasizing that this was possible “at the cost of enormous suffering and sacrifice by those who, remaining faithful to the Gospel, died as martyrs.”
Archbishop Nappa quoted the words of Pope Leo XIV, spoken during a meeting with pilgrims of the UGCC in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on June 28, 2025. The Holy Father called Ukraine “a beautiful land, rich in Christian faith,” “watered with the blood of many martyrs who, over the centuries, sealed their fidelity to the Apostle Peter and his successors with the gift of their lives.”
In conclusion, the archbishop emphasized the importance of unity in faith and hope, stressing: “We represent here a hope that never dies,” and called for remaining “united in one faith and one hope.”
After the speeches, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, together with the Secretary General of the Governorate, solemnly unveiled the stamp and its special first-day cancellation. At the same time, a limited edition philatelic booklet with a commemorative envelope was presented.
This project was the first joint philatelic initiative between the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Secretariat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome.
Secretariat of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome
