Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem: Prayer is a first step to peace in Ukraine

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and all Palestine wishes Ukrainians to never lose their hope and believes that all existing problems can be sort out via dialogue. He said about it as he was receiving a gift from Ukrainian pilgrims – a composite icon featuring 100 miraculous icons of the Mother of God handed in to the Patriarch with a request to pray for Ukraine before this icon, reports the UOC Information Center.

“I have seen a lot of Ukrainians come to Jerusalem. A prayer is one of the steps to peace. Apart from that, there is a dialogue and understanding. We’ve been watching the developments in Ukraine and I have a firm belief that problems will be resolved sooner or later there. We continually urge everybody to reconciliation. Reconciliation is a first step to be continued with a dialogue. Everything is possible as long as there is a dialogue,” remarked His Beatitude Patriarch of the Holy City.

Patriarch Theophilos III gave an example of hypothetical dialogue-building in seemingly hopeless situations.

“We showed to the entire world that here, in Jerusalem, we were facing a complicated problem with reconstruction of the Edicule in the Holy Sepulchre Church. Nobody believed it would be possible one day. However, with God’s help and thanks to our never fading hope it did become a reality,” said the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

On April 14, Holy Friday, there was a large-scale Cross Procession along Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Orthodox believers from different parts of the world were carrying reproductions of 100 famous in Ukraine miraculous icons of the Holy Virgin Mary.


Read also

Volodymyr-Volynskyi Eparchy marks 30 years since restoration

The Pantanassa Icon and relics of Prince Volodymyr have arrived in Kovel and will visit churches across the Volodymyr-Volynskyi Eparchy to mark the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the episcopal see.

Bukovyna faithful bring humanitarian aid to Kherson region residents

The UOC’s Chernivtsi Eparchy delivered food to Holy Spirit Cathedral in Kherson.

Ukraine must have its own faith: Poroshenko's party lays out peace terms

Poroshenko’s party European Solidarity described church policy as a matter of national sovereignty and said there can be no compromises in this area.

432 UOC churches damaged in Ukraine during war, report says

According to the Religion on Fire project, 807 religious buildings in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.

DESS official gives number of clergy exempt from mobilization in Ukraine

A DESS representative said the actual number of clergy exempt from mobilization is significantly lower than the number of religious organizations designated as critical.

Cabinet keeps gas prices unchanged for religious organizations

The Cabinet has fixed gas prices for religious organizations through the end of the 2026–2027 heating season.