VISIT TO THE GREEK-CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SAINT NICHOLAS

PRAYER OF JOHN PAUL II
TO OUR LADY OF ZARVANIZA

Saturday, 23 June 2001

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Zarvaniza,

I thank you for the gift of my visit to the Kyivan Rus’

from where the light of the Gospel spread through this whole region.

Here before your miraculous icon,

kept in this church of Saint Nicholas,

I entrust to you, Mother of God and Mother of the Church,

my apostolic journey to Ukraine.

Holy Mother of God,

spread your maternal mantle over all Christians

and over all people of good will

who live in this great nation.

Lead them to your Son, Jesus,

who is for everyone the way, the truth and the life.