“I am called to pray for everybody. I can’t do all by name list — tens of millions of people belong to our Church. But I pray for our Church, for the people. And every day, absolutely especially in the cell I pray for Ukraine”, — said his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill during a meeting with children from Ukraine, held on 3 November 2018 in the refectory of the Epiphany Cathedral of Moscow.
“This is my most intense prayer that requires special inner strength, because I know that it is very difficult today — the enemy of mankind takes up arms against the unity of our Church. And therefore pray the Lord of all gave us strength, fortress, confidence in the rightness of our cause” — said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Representatives of children’s creative teams from different cities of Ukraine for the fifteenth time on a pilgrimage to Orthodox shrines of Russia — the miraculous icon of the Vladimir icon of the blessed virgin Mary, the honourable relics of Sainted-hierarchs Peter and Alexis, the blessed Matrona and other Holy places. Before the relics of Sainted-hierarchs Peter and Alexis young pilgrims perform particular prayers for peace in their country.
Annual pilgrimage trips organized by the Synodal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “Church and culture”. A group of pilgrims is headed by the head of the Synodal Department, the abbess Odessa Archangel Michael monastery hegumeness Serafima (Shevchyk).
During a meeting with his Holiness Patriarch Kirill of children sang Ukrainian songs and dances and presented His Holiness with a loaf of bread and presents, made them his own.
“I would like to thank mother Seraphima and all of you, my dear, that you come every year, — said his Holiness, welcoming the guests. — Because together we find the feast of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God and that you bring me this wonderful gift — the joy, peace, love, energy, beauty of Ukrainian land. May the Lord keep us all in spiritual unity. May the Lord keep Ukraine in peace, unanimity and prosperity”.
“Such meetings are in some way the answer to my prayers, — said his Holiness Patriarch Kirill. — In your face I see a young generation of Orthodox people, Ukrainians, who preserve the unity of our Church, and thus the hope for a future that is bright, peaceful, and I believe very prosperous for all of us, my dear”.
In conclusion, his Holiness blessed the young pilgrims and gave them gifts, according to Patriarhiei.