Interfaith Prayer Service for Christian Unity Held at Patriarchal Cathedral
On January 18, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv hosted an interfaith Prayer Service for Christian unity. This event marked the beginning of the Week of Ecumenical Prayer, which this year is held under the theme “Whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26).
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, led the prayer in concelebration with the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine Visvaldas Kulbokas, Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy, clergy and representatives of the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Churches.
Representatives of the Jewish community were also present at the prayer service.
Bishop Volodymyr Kondor, executive secretary and first deputy chairman of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, delivered a sermon to the participants. In his speech, he emphasized the key role of faith in the unity of Christians.
“Today we are celebrating this special day when we can pray together to our Lord and ask Him for one of the most important needs of us Christians—unity. Christ Himself prayed that all would be one,” the preacher emphasized.
Bishop Volodymyr noted that this year’s theme of ecumenical prayers, which is held under the slogan “Whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:26), deeply resonates with Ukrainians who have endured the realities of war for three consecutive years.
According to the bishop, “Christ’s question, ‘Do you believe this?’ speaks to us on a personal level. It calls us to faith, which gives us the strength to continue the journey, overcome difficulties and forge ahead.”
“Our faith encourages us to pray incessantly. Christians in Ukraine have never been more united than in these recent years. May our answer to Christ’s question be affirmative today: ‘Yes, Lord, I believe,’ the preacher said.
At the end of the prayer service, the Father and Head of the UGCC thanked the audience for the joint prayer, and noted that it was held “in wounded Kyiv, yet with hope.”
“Ukraine and the world are praying for the unity of Christians. For it is the unity of Ukrainians that is the source of resilience and victory. The unity of faith in the Resurrection is the source of our hope,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
This year, the World Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will run from January 18–25.
The UGCC Department for Information
