Symbol of faith, hope and love

The “Bethlehem fire of peace” international relay began last week. Following tradition, on this occasion a solemn Mass was celebrated at the Vienna Cathedral, with the Ukrainian delegation’s participation, as in previous years. After the Mass, scouting organizations began to spread the Bethlehem fire of peace throughout Europe.

Founded in 1988 by an Austrian broadcasting company, the event was intended to convey light from the birthplace of Baby Jesus to those who celebrate Christmas away from home — in hospitals, orphanages, homes for the elderly... The same year, the initiative was picked up by Viennese scouts. The scouts, who are called Plastuns in Ukraine, remain the key organizers of the event. Every year in late November the fire is flown in to Europe from Bethlehem in a special container. Then it passes, so to say, from hand to hand. From Austria through Slovakia and Poland, the fire arrives in Ukraine in mid-December. So, this year, on December 17, the Harcerze (Polish Scouts) will pass it on to our Plastuns. The event has the blessings of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church. “For the twentieth time, this symbol of faith, hope and love is to be distributed in churches, orphanages, hospitals,” says the event’s coordinator Ivan Spryn. “Because the fire from the birthplace of Jesus Christ ought to burn at Christmas in every Ukrainian family!”