Zelenskys pray at interfaith service in Kyiv St. Sophia Cathedral

Interfaith prayer service at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv attended by Ukraine’s leadership and representatives of various religious communities. Photo: screenshot from Suspilne Novyny livestream

On August 24, 2026, Volodymyr and Olena Zelensky took part in an interfaith prayer service at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv marking Ukraine’s Independence Day, according to a livestream of the event by Suspilne Novyny.

Representatives of various religious communities took part in the joint prayer, including OCU head Epifaniy Dumenko together with Yevstratiy Zoria, UGCC head Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Roman Catholic Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi, leaders of Ukrainian Protestant denominations, representatives of the Armenian Church, Muslims, and Jews. Organizers emphasized that those gathered “address God in different ways,” but pray together for peace, unity, and the protection of the country. Prayers were also offered for military personnel and those on the home front.

DESS head Viktor Yelensky was also present at the event.

After the interfaith prayer service, the celebrations continued on Sophia Square with speeches by politicians and the presentation of state awards. Among those honored was Roman Catholic Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi, whom Zelensky thanked for his “prayer, assistance, and support.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the president congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day and said that the shoulder patches of Ukrainian soldiers are charged with light.

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