On the first Sunday of July, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Naval Forces, and at the same time, the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Byzantine rite celebrates the Holiday of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Given this, the Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Svyatoslav on Sunday, July 4, submitted the Ukrainian military fleet under the Mother of God of Perpetual Help protection.
On this day in the communities of the UCC faithful remember the servicemen and veterans of the Navy of Ukraine and members of their families, entrusting them to the spiritual care of military chaplains.
“We believe that today, when our nation undergoes many ordeals and trials, the Mother of God with her maternal heart will listen to the prayers of Ukrainian sailors and their commanders and will remain a reliable refuge and an affectionate guide through the challenges and brave waves of everyday military service for the benefit of Ukraine and its people “, – noted the Department of Military Chaplaincy.
The Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which took place in Lviv, on September 3-12, 2017, established a holiday of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church proclaimed an annual celebration of this holiday on the first Sunday of July.
This year we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of honoring Our Lady of Perpetual Help and noticing the wide presence of this icon in the churches and homes of people of various denominations in Ukraine as well as beyond its borders and the widespread devotion among our faithful.
Source: news.ugcc.ua
