Video Message of the Head of the UGCC on the 189th Week of the Full-Scale War, September 28, 2025
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
It is the 189th week of a full-scale war. This week will be remembered by many people across the world for the United Nations summit, where world leaders sought to resolve contemporary issues, and Ukraine — our distress, our pain, our war — was the focal point. Meanwhile, Russian troops continued to kill in Ukraine. Every night, our cities and villages were attacked by various types of air strikes. Moreover, the more high-level talks and diplomatic efforts take place, the more they attack Ukraine. It feels as if the words of the Apostle Paul are coming true for us, that we, Ukrainians, “have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men” (1 Cor. 4:9). The world watches, and shrugs its shoulders, yet, unfortunately, the war rages on.
And for Ukrainians, this week will also be remembered for another tragedy. This week, 24-year-old Tetyana Sakiyan passed away. She was pregnant and suffered severe injuries and burns during the shelling of Kyiv on September 7. Her baby, who was not ready for life and was saved by a C-section, remains in critical condition. The mother died, and doctors are fighting for the baby’s life. This child is perhaps a symbol of Ukraine’s struggle for its own life, for the right to live in the modern world.
But also, as we conclude this week, we are approaching a very important holiday for all Ukrainians. On October 1, when we celebrate the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ukraine will celebrate the Day of Defenders of the Motherland. It is our defenders, our military personnel, our servicemen and women, who are creating a space for life for this newborn orphan. It is Ukrainian soldiers who are today the true fighters for a just peace in Ukraine, in Europe, and throughout the world. Today, we sincerely congratulate our defenders on this holiday. We are grateful that we are alive, that they are fighting for us at the cost of their own lives so that we can live freely on our native Ukrainian soil.
We especially pray for all those defenders who gave their lives for their homeland. We support our military. The Church never blesses war as the greatest crime against God and man. But the Church prays for people, for those warriors of light and peace who defend human life. We pray for our defenders who are in captivity, those who are missing, those who are wounded and receiving treatment in various medical institutions in Ukraine and abroad. We pray for their families. We thank the Ukrainian army for enabling us to continue living, praying, and serving God and people. And on their behalf, we hereby declare to the whole world: Ukraine stands! Ukraine fights! Ukraine prays!
As we enter the month of October, we, as the ecclesial community of our Church in Ukraine and throughout the world, welcome the call of the Pope Leo XIII to dedicate the month of October especially to prayer for peace. We are joining the Pope’s call for daily prayer on the rosary for peace in Ukraine and the entire world.
I hope that all our faithful will respond to this call for daily Marian prayer for peace in October. We invite you to join our live rosary, which brings together hundreds of thousands of people around the world every day in a live broadcast. I encourage you to join in the continuous rosary prayer, which has been ongoing for a long time. We know that prayer has the power to stop the demon of war. Let us join together in this universal prayer, led by His Holiness Pope Leo, whom the Ukrainian people call the Pope of Peace.
I received a very interesting letter from Ukrainian children at our St. Josaphat School in Toronto. Ukrainian children, teachers, and parents are proposing that the prayer for the conversion of Russia and for peace in Ukraine not last only one month. The children from Toronto are asking everyone to join the initiative every month, on the 13th day of the month, so that the children of our Church may join in the children’s rosary prayer, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima.
Therefore, I appeal to all the children of our Church, to all the children of Ukraine. Children, the prayer of a child opens the heavens. The prayer of a child opens the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God. May the children of Ukraine unite every month on the 13th day in prayer for the conversion of Russia and for peace. For we believe that God’s power is mightier than human strength or weakness.
God, bless Ukraine! God, bless our servicemen and women on the front lines! God, accept our tears, our prayers, our lamentations, which rise from the Ukrainian land to You, to heaven! God, be merciful to our blood, to our wounds! Lord of peace, bless our long-suffering Ukraine with Your righteous heavenly peace!
The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and forever, and for the ages of ages. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
