The National Day of Prayer for Ukraine was celebrated in Bucha on June 10, 2023. Believers of different faiths united in a common prayer for peace in the country.
The venue was not chosen by chance, as Bucha is one of the cities most affected by the occupation by Russian troops. Believers of different denominations gathered together to praise God and unite in a common prayer for His peace, protection, and guidance. The hall of the multifunctional complex on the territory of the Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Science (UGI) accommodated a large number of spectators—some of them had no choice but to stand.
This grand event of the year began with a minute of silence in honor of all those who died during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. David Hathaway, a British evangelist, who proposed the idea of a National Day of Prayer for Ukraine, also gave an inspiring speech at the beginning.
Throughout the event, words and prayers were heard from spiritual leaders—representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Believers prayed for unity in the revival of Ukraine, help for people, and the restoration of territorial integrity. They also mentioned in their prayers requests to God for comfort for the families of the victims and healing of their hearts, as well as for Ukrainian children, teenagers, and youth, the spread of the Gospel in the nation, and many other needs of the people.
All the attendees united in prayer, and after each prayer, they praised God with songs. The musical accompaniment was in the format of live music and singing. Christian music groups took part in the event.
The event was broadcast for those who could not be physically present in the hall and wanted to join in the prayers. During the live broadcast, which can be found on the official website dedicated to the events of the National Day of Prayer for Ukraine, sign language interpretation was available, allowing the hearing impaired to understand the meaning of the prayers and songs.
Ivan Korshunov, a student of the Ukrainian Adventist Theological Institute, said, "The level of organization was quite high. The musical part was quite well organized. But it was somewhat unusual to be among so many people."
"This event had a unifying motive of prayer and support in each other's prayers. And if you look superficially, this event achieved its goal. Looking around me, I saw people who were sincere in their judgments, sincerely perceived the information, and I realized that the Lord has a grand plan for each of us,” said student Vladislav Tyshchenko. “Frankly speaking, I did not feel comfortable there, perhaps because I compare this religious event to a church service."
The event ended with a word and prayer for victory from Hathaway.
The events dedicated to the National Day of Prayer for Ukraine have been held since 2016, and those actively involved hope that after the victory, the appeal to God in general prayers will not stop but will be accompanied by gratitude and praise to Him.