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An icon created in Ukraine during the height of the conflict has been solemnly blessed at a UK cathedral after making a perilous journey out of the country. The icon was made and brought to the UK after being commissioned by the Catholic Military Association (CMA).
The icon of Our Lady of Victories was blessed on 7 October at St Michael and St George’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Aldershot, Hampshire. The devotional artwork, which depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, was commissioned by the CMA – which supports Catholics in the UK Armed Forces, as well as their families and Catholic veterans –with financial support from the Catenians, the international organisation of Catholic laymen.
Eighteen months in the making, with help from Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the icon was transferred from a workshop in Lviv, in the west of the war-torn country, through an individual who cannot be named for security reasons.
That individual, as well as suffering injuries, which delayed the project, narrowly escaped death when a bomb exploded 50 metres from where he was standing. The man was ACN’s point of contact for the project, and the organisation notes that he played a critical role regarding the logistics and shipment of the icon.
“It means a tremendous amount that it has got a home in Aldershot and that that it will be seen by a lot of people, and they can benefit from it,” said Captain Francis Osborn, CMA chairman.
“We wanted something permanent as we are quite a new organisation and we really wanted something solid, a foundation that our members who are spread all around the country and the world, could look to for solace, reinforcement and encouragement.
"We settled on an Icon because it’s a really ancient way of showing faith. It’s very visual and its beauty speaks right to the soul.”
The service to bless the icon was led by Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski OBE, by Apostolic Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London and by Bishop Paul Mason, Catholic Bishop of the Forces, who is based at the cathedral that serves the UK Armed Forces.
“Our Lady of Victories heralds the victory over death and captivity by evil that her Son’s death and resurrection has won for His sisters and brothers," said Bishop Nowakowski.
“We place those who are defending Ukraine and indeed Europe during this time of war under the protection of the Holy Mother of God as the patroness of Victory.”
John Pontifex, head of press and public affairs at ACN (UK), said: “It is wonderful that a project that has been so many months in the making has finally made it through to completion, fulfilling the vision of the CMA and all of us to find a renewed focus for prayer and solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
“Work on the icon continued despite the war that has so deeply scarred the face of Ukraine and we pray that through the intercession of Our Lady of Victories peace and justice may come to Ukraine.”
Major General Chris Barry CBE, British Army Director of Land Warfare, read a lesson during the service and a Ukrainian Greek Catholic choir sung while the icon was being venerated.
Just before the service, Commander James Francis, Royal Navy, said: “Today is the feast of our Lady of Victories who is the patron saint of the Catholic Military Association, and we are using the feast as an opportunity for the blessing of the icon that we’ve commissioned from Ukraine. It is a symbol of our prayer for peace.
“People risked their lives to get it here. It’s really a sign of the ultimate victory of peace.
“It is a very moving icon, it portrays an intention that we are here as a force for good in the world. We have invested a lot of time in training Ukrainian troops and the opportunity to be in fellowship with them through this icon is significant.”
Artist Oksana Zhuravska painted the icon over the course of more than a year. The workshop in Lviv continues the centuries-old traditions of well-known Ukrainian iconographers and is inspired by medieval masterpieces including Andriy Rublev’s Holy Trinity.
“Things like this provide a focus in the faith. I didn’t know how many would come to venerate it but everyone wanted to queue and venerate it," said Bishop Mason. "It’s something in art which helps you transcend where you are into your faith, using the art to draw you in.”
Photo: Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski and Bishop Paul Mason, Catholic Bishop of the Forces. (Image: Marcin Mazur.)
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