Head of the UGCC in Week 231 of the War: The Day of the Baptism of Rus’-Ukraine Was Yet Another Manifestation of the Choice of European Civilization
“The day of our Baptism, the day of our statehood, and the day commemorating Saint Prince Volodymyr has become yet another manifestation of the European civilizational choice that Prince Volodymyr made for our people and for our Church.” This was stated by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in his traditional address for the 231 st week of Russia’s full-scale invasion of our peaceful land.
Photo: Vechirnii Kyiv
The Primate noted that the past week was yet again marked by fierce fighting and massive nighttime attacks on Ukrainian cities and villages. Odesa was particularly badly affected, with casualties and many wounded as a result of Russian shelling.
At the same time, however, the week was full of hopeful events. Ukraine honored the gift of Holy Baptism by commemorating Prince Volodymyr, Equal to the Apostles. The Primate emphasized that it was precisely the Sacrament of Baptism that served as the source from which both the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian state emerged.
“Whenever the people seek the source of their own strength, whenever they strive to find new strength and energy to continue bearing witness to their resilience, to carry on the struggle for dignity and freedom, we return once again to our baptismal vows and seek inspiration from that source of our dignity and freedom in Christ,” said the Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav drew special attention to the visits to Ukraine by two envoys of Pope Leo XIV. He thanked the Holy Father for his unwavering support of the Ukrainian people.
In particular, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who is serving as a mediator on humanitarian issues between Ukraine and Russia, visited Russian prisoners of war at the invitation of the Ukrainian side.
“Ukraine wanted to demonstrate that it is complying with all norms of international humanitarian law. Now let Russia try to prevent the papal envoy from visiting our Ukrainian soldiers. We are doing everything to ensure that our defenders and civilian hostages return home in due course,” the Primate noted.
Also this week, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican envoy and Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, visited Ukraine. He met with government officials and representatives of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, and led a pilgrimage to Berdychiv to mark the 35th anniversary of the restoration of the Roman Catholic Church’s structures in Ukraine.
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Address by the Head of the UGCC for the 231 st Week of the Full-Scale War, July 19, 2026
“We thank the entire global community, especially religious leaders, who joined us in prayer today,” emphasized the Head of the Church.
Separately, the Father and Head of the UGCC highlighted the summer season as a time of active ministry by the Church to children and all those in need of spiritual healing. He thanked the priests, religious, and laity who organize summer camps, including the “Vacation with God” program.
“Let us ask the Lord God to bless our children, parents, and all those who are working today to ensure that even a summer vacation becomes a time of spiritual growth and healing from the wounds of war,” the Primate urged.
The UGCC Department for Information
