Celebrations Mark 25 Years Since Pope John Paul II's Journey to Ukraine
A special ceremony took place at St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv to mark the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Ukraine. As part of the event, a commemorative postage stamp was officially canceled, symbolizing this historic milestone. Dignitaries from various sectors attended the celebrations, including:
- Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytskyi, Ordinary of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese
- Olena Kovalska, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
- Viktor Yelenskyi, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience
- Rostyslav Tistyk, Member of Parliament
- Father Ihor Shaban, Head of the UGCC Commission for Interfaith and Interreligious Relations
During the ceremony, participants made a symbolic collective impression of a special postmark on envelopes featuring the new stamp. Artist Mykola Stupinsky created the portrait of John Paul II for the stamp design, while Yuriy Kotyk assisted in project organization. The parish priest, Father Pavlo Vyshkovsky, remarked:
'I greet you, Ukraine, brave and steadfast witness to the embrace of faith values'
recalling the words of John Paul II.
Following the official proceedings, a Holy Mass was celebrated at the church, along with a joint prayer for Ukraine's defenders. John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, and who passed away on April 2, 2005, visited Ukraine from June 23 to 27, 2001. During that trip, the Pontiff traveled to Kyiv and Lviv, holding large-scale services that drew over two million pilgrims and beatifying 28 Ukrainian new martyrs.
St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv was granted to the Roman Catholic community for free long-term use. The decision to transfer the church was officially announced on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, with Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna confirming a 50-year rent-free lease, though the state retains ownership. The struggle to reclaim the church spanned more than three decades. Maria-Teresa Shybanova, quoting the Pope, noted:
'You will have the Ukraine that you build for yourselves'
This event highlights a key moment in Ukrainian-Catholic relations and underscores the significance of Pope John Paul II's visit to Ukraine. The Pontiff's journey left a lasting impression on many Ukrainians, and his words continue to inspire efforts toward unity and national renewal. The stamp cancellation serves as a tribute to the legacy of this visit and its impact on religious life in Ukraine.