The traditional Ukrainian Prayer Breakfast was held in Washington, D.C., as part of the landmark Ukrainian Week 2025 event, bringing together numerous guests from Ukraine and across the United States in prayer for victory and peace. This year, more than 500 delegates attended the event, including U.S. Congressmen, Ukrainian officials, representatives of the Armed Forces, the Ukrainian community, charitable organizations and missions.
This was reported by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova and Ukrainian Week. Washington DC.
For 19 years in a row, the Ukrainian Prayer Breakfast has gathered religious, political and military leaders from Ukraine and the United States to pray for Ukraine. The event is traditionally held the day after the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast.
"Together we prayed for Ukraine, for our people and our defenders, for a lasting and just peace, as well as for the determination of the American authorities to establish peace," Markarova said.
In her speech, she also recalled that this day was the 1080th since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"These are 1080 days of destruction, pain and trials. But they are also 1080 days of our struggle - for Ukraine, for democracy and for the truth," Markarova added.
In a solemn atmosphere, the Ukrainian flag was raised as a symbol of the struggle for freedom, and the participants united in prayer for Ukraine, its defenders and its future. The prayer meeting was led by Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Head of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in the United States, and Viktor Yelenskyy, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy.
Congressmen Tim Walberg, Joe Wilson, and Jim Slattery spoke at the event and reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The event was also attended by U.S. senators, congressmen, diplomats, volunteers, doctors, and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora.
It was noted that this year's event was attended by the largest Ukrainian delegation of Ukrainian celebrities and politicians, including the famous boxer Oleksandr Usyk and Ukrainian singer and politician Oksana Bilozir. Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko also attended the prayer breakfast and emphasized that peace remains the main goal to be achieved through joint efforts. The delegation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine paid tribute to the resilience of those who are fighting for Ukraine's freedom today.
The event was supported by Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Seattle Valeriy Holoborodko, founder of the Ukrainian Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., and Doug Burley, co-organizer of the U.S. Presidential Prayer Breakfast.
Video: Borys Gudziak
Author: Inna Mikhno