risu.org.ua - The Council of Hierarchs of the Greek Catholic Church of Slovakia expressed its sympathy to the people of neighboring Ukraine who are now experiencing difficult times.

“We call on priests, if possible, in the coming days to celebrate the Divine Liturgy or to include in the Liturgy a request for peace and a just resolution to the crisis in Ukraine.

“We invite the faithful of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church to pray for the peaceful resolution of the tense situation, to keep the Commandments of God and the principles of solidarity and democracy,” Bishop Jan Babiak, Archbishop of Presov, wrote in a letter to the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

Furthermore, it should be noted that religious media outlets in Slovakia are widely covering the events that are taking place these days in Ukraine, the Information Department of the UGCC reports.


Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)