Cathedral and the Embassy of Ukraine Will Offer Prayers for Ukraine

June 26, 2023

As the world commemorates 500 days of Russia’s full-fledged aggression against Ukraine, Washington National Cathedral will host Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA Oksana Markarova and Ukrainian clergy for a special ecumenical prayer service on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The service will feature music provided by the choir of Washington National Cathedral, the choir of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family, and the choir of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.

The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, will deliver remarks.

The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, issued the following statement in recognition of this tragic milestone:

“As the fighting continues in Ukraine, Washington National Cathedral is honored to provide the space for Ukrainians and Americans to come together and pray for peace. We hope this service offers a moment of respite, and we welcome the opportunity to lift our voices together with our Ukrainian friends in prayers for peace and an end to war.”

The ecumenical service will be led by:

  • The Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope, Provost of Washington National Cathedral
  • Rev. Dr. Volodymyr Steliac, Dean of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (Silver Spring, MD)
  • Fr. Robert Hitchens, Pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family (Washington, D.C.)

Co-hosts for this event include: 

  • Washington National Cathedral
  • Embassy of Ukraine
  • Ukraine House

The service will take place in the Cathedral’s nave; media are invited to attend. Media may contact Carolyn Davis at (202) 288-9618 or [email protected] for further details and livestream information or to connect with Cathedral Chief Public Affairs Officer Kevin Eckstrom.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Carolyn Davis, (202) 288-9618, [email protected]

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About Washington National Cathedral
Grounded in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ, Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, conceived by our founders to serve as a great church for national purposes.