Leaders from many of our national Member Churches attended the ‘Ecumenical and Inter-Faith Prayer Service for Peace in Ukraine’ at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London. The service on 24 February marked the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion.
CTE President Archbishop Nikitas and General Secretary Bishop Mike Royal offered prayers, while CTE President Rev Canon Helen Cameron and representatives from across the traditions lit candles.
The Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Rt Rev Kenneth Nowakowski thanked religious and civic leaders for the support they had given to the Ukrainian people – both in Ukraine and those who have been displaced in Britain.
It was a very powerful occasion. Above the congregation hung 461 paper angels. Each angel represented one Ukrainian child killed in the war.
At 11 am the national moment of silence was observed in the cathedral by Bishop Kenneth, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and the Faith Minister, Baroness Scott.
Pupils from the nearby St Mary’s Ukrainian School then sang ‘Oh, in the meadow a red kalyna.’ This is a traditional folk song which has become a patriotic anthem over the last year.
Download the order of service (pdf).
Ecumenical memorial service
At 4 pm church leaders and Ukrainian supporters gathered at the statue of St. Volodymyr, near Holland Park, to remember those who had lost their lives in the conflict. And to continue the prayers for peace. #WePrayForUKraine.
Share the anniversary Prayer for Ukraine written by the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Photo credits: Marcin Mazur / Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales