Bethlehem Peace Light Brought to Ukraine
The Bethlehem Light of Peace crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border during the night of December 17. Ukrainian scouts have brought it to Ukraine for twelve years. They will distribute the fire to churches, schools, orphanages, hospitals and state institutions.
The international scout campaign “Bethlehem Light of Peace” was started on December 15 in Vienna. That day during a celebratory mass in one of the Vienna cathedrals, the fire was officially passed to scouts of various countries. On December 16, in Krakow, celebratory events were held where the Ukrainian scouts of the Organization of Ukrainian Scouts received the light and carried it to Ukraine.
The delegation of the Organization of Ukrainian Scouts from Lviv, Cherkasy and other towns of Ukraine attended the events in Krakow for the occasion.
This year, the campaign’s motto is “Do not be afraid to be good.” According to the Catholic magazine Credo, Archbishop Mieczyslav Mokrzycki of Lviv of the Roman Catholic Church gave his blessing for the event.
The Bethlehem light is also traditionally brought to Ukraine by members of Plast. This year, nearly 30 Plast members from all over Ukraine went to Vienna on December 15 to bring the fire. It has been their fifteenth such trip.
This has been supported by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-KP, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine.
