“Prayer that unites” – under this slogan, the Second Prayer Breakfast of the State Service for the Execution of Criminal Punishments was held on May 3.

The initiators and organizers were the Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olena Vysotska and the Executive Director of the Ukrainian Christian Interfaith Mission “Spiritual and Charitable Care in Places of Imprisonment”, Vyacheslav Kogut.

The purpose of the event is the spiritual unity of Ukrainian politicians, civil servants, public figures and representatives of the church, as well as establishing cooperation between the clergy and the authorities.

“We are glad to see all the guests today. We want this Prayer Breakfast to really unite different structures and inspire you to hold similar events,” said Vyacheslav Kogut, director of the prison mission and BF Support for Ukraine.

About 180 people gathered in the DKVS hall for a united prayer. Representatives of the Greek Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church, OCU, Evangelical churches, politicians, deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, chaplains, public figures and others. Also, the Minister of Justice of Ukraine Denys Malyuska, director of the International Prison Mission “Prison Fellowship International” Andy Corley and director of the Prison Mission “Fundația Prison Fellowship Romania” Andrei Brie attended the Second Prayer Breakfast of the DKVS.

The format of the event combined not only prayer and breakfast, but also a presentation of the joint work of the DKVS and churches, a speech by a former prisoner together with the head of the prison in which he served his sentence and a church minister who conducted spiritual work with the convicts. The man talked about how, thanks to the cooperation of the church and the prison staff, he was able to start a new life.

Also, during the Second Prayer Breakfast of the DKVS, an exhibition and sale of artistic works of prisoners took place, the money for which the guests could immediately transfer to any fund to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Photo by Paul Sandor