His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Bucha, with relatives of the victims at 144 Yablunska Street pray for the victims of Russian aggression
On Monday, March 6, in Bucha, at 144 Yablunska Street, the Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, prayed for the Ukrainians killed on the first day of the occupation of the city. The victims’ relatives joined the prayer, with whom the Head of the UGCC spoke after the memorial service.
A year ago, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, eight men in Bucha voluntarily formed a territorial defense. On March 4, 2022, when the Russians entered the city, they found them in a house at 144 Yablunska Street, took them barefoot outside, tortured, and killed them.
The Father and Head of the UGCC visited this place, “a place of blood and pain,” and honored the memory of the victims. The UGCC priests from Irpin, Fr Myroslav Latynnyk, rector of the parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Fr Vitaliy Voetsa, military medical chaplain of the UGCC, prayed with the Primate.
“Today we are here, at this place — the place of fighting and blood where it all happened a year ago. This place will become a symbol of Ukraine’s pain, a symbol of the crimes the Russian aggressors committed coming to our peaceful land to kill, destroy and annihilate.”
The bodies of 13 residents were found at the Agrobudpostach base, where the occupiers set up their headquarters after the liberation of Bucha.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav urged people to remember the crimes committed by the enemy and emphasized that heroes do not die.
“Just as the sun overcomes the darkness, spring will surely conquer winter, so we, Christians, believe that heroes do not die. The Lord granted those ready to give their lives for their homeland immortality,” said the Head of the UGCC.
He emphasized that we need people from all over the world to come here. “We want to tell the whole world what is happening in Ukraine. So today, we say: ‘Come and look here, at this place of blood. Look into the eyes of those men who did not waver to give their lives for their homeland.’”
After the prayer, the Head of the UGCC met with the heroes’ families: parents, wives, sisters, and friends. His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his condolences, paid his respect, and thanked them.
“To all of you, family and friends, let me offer our heartfelt condolences. Today we want to pray with you here and share your pain because shared pain hurts less. It is seen in your eyes. These wounds hurt you. Those young men would have lived and lived on, but they are no longer with you today. Someone took a right to decide who should live and who should die. So please accept our condolences, our respect for your pain.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav called for honoring the place of execution of Ukrainians in Bucha, at 144 Yablunska Street, and expressed hope that a memorial would soon be erected there to honor the memory of the heroes in prayer.
The UGCC Department for Information
