On May 26, 2025, in Copenhagen (Denmark), a delegation from the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) took part in the international conference "When Time Come", focused on achieving a just peace for Ukraine and its post-war reconstruction.
In the morning, the UCCRO delegation joined representatives of the National Council of Churches in Denmark for a prayer service dedicated to a just peace in Ukraine. Prior to the prayer, UCCRO Chair Bishop Valerii Antoniuk addressed the participants with a biblical message based on Psalm 124, emphasizing God’s help to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. On behalf of the Ukrainian religious community, he expressed gratitude to the Danish churches for spreading the truth about the war in Ukraine and for their ongoing support and prayers. At the conclusion of the prayer event, the UCCRO delegation performed the hymn-prayer “Let My Prayer Rise.”
Following the service, the UCCRO delegation presented a gift to King Frederik X of Denmark in honor of his birthday—a painting depicting a child in the arms of Christ, accompanied by the Bible verse: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The artwork was painted on boards from ammunition crates.
In the afternoon, the Ukrainian delegation participated in the "When Time Come" conference, held at the Ukrainian House in Denmark. The event brought together scholars, politicians, government officials, and religious leaders from Denmark and other countries including Norway and Sweden. The conference was moderated by Emil Saggau, Secretary General of the National Council of Churches in Denmark, while Katja Gunnertoft Bojsen, Secretary General of the Center for Church-Based Development Cooperation (CKU), delivered welcome remarks on behalf of Danish churches and organizations.
During the first panel discussion, UCCRO Chair Valerii Antoniuk and Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi (Roman Catholic Church) spoke about the chaplaincy and humanitarian work of Ukrainian churches along the front lines, and how religious organizations are helping society cope with the hardships and devastation caused by the war. The UCCRO representatives emphasized the vital role played by religious denominations in Ukraine’s resistance to Russian military aggression.
The second panel introduced participants to humanitarian projects conducted by Danish Christian churches in Ukraine, highlighting the work of the Trauma Healing Institute under the Ukrainian Bible Society. Representatives of the institute discussed the issue of trauma in the context of war and shared their experiences in providing psychological healing, especially for children of military personnel and young people.
The final panel featured speakers such as Pastor Anatoliy Raichynets (Ukrainian Bible Society), Danish MP Christian Friis Bach, and Fr. Kyrylo Hovorun, professor at the Stockholm School of Theology (Ukraine). They discussed the concept of just peace and reconciliation, shared lessons and risks drawn from the reconciliation experience in the former Yugoslavia, and examined post-war challenges and issues for Ukraine. They also highlighted the critical role of civil society—particularly churches and religious organizations—during the war and in Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
The UCCRO delegation expressed its sincere gratitude to Denmark, the Danish people, and the churches for their assistance and support for Ukraine.
The visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Copenhagen was made at the invitation of the National Council of Churches in Denmark. The UCCRO delegation included: Council Chair Bishop Valerii Antoniuk (All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists), Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi (Roman Catholic Church), Mitred Archpriest Oleksa Petriv (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), Bishop Stanislav Nosov (Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ukraine), Pastor Anatoliy Raichynets (Ukrainian Bible Society), Fr. Serhii Berezhnoi (Orthodox Church of Ukraine), Oleksandr Zaiets (Institute for Religious Freedom), and representatives of the Trauma Healing Institute Viktoriia Raichynets and Olena Nosova.