Mykola Zhuravel - UkraineMarch 25, 2022 the feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Rome at Saint Peter's Basilica. A consecration ceremony is also scheduled in Fatima, Portugalby the Papal almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
Russia has been dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary four times already. The first time being October 31, 1942 in the midst of World War II, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary through a radio message on the eve of All Saints Day.
On the feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, “Apostles to the Slavs,” Pope Pius XII issued an apostolic letter directed to the Russian people, entrusting Russia and her people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
November 21, 1964, at the conclusion of the third Session of the Second Vatican Council, Pope (St.) Paul VI, along with all the bishops present, renewed the consecration of the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
March 25, 1984, Pope (St.) John Paul II consecrated the whole world in front of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, inviting all other bishops to join him in prayer, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
One wonders how many more times we need to implore our heavenly Mother for help?
Our Lady of Fatima appeared on May 13, 1917, only a few months after a revolution began in Russia that would spread through the whole world, and Russiawas specifically mentioned in her message to the children.
“To prevent [another World War], I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays.
If people attend to my requests, Russiawill be converted and the world will have peace. If not, she [Russia] will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed.
In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me; it will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugalthe dogmas of the Faith will always be kept.”
“This act of consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace.” Pope Francis March 21, 2022
Ukrainian artist Mykola Zhuravel turns to nature to create thriving monuments to our link to the earth itself. He searches for compatibility between Earth and mankind, while pointedly making reference to the obstacles that human beings have placed in the way of a harmonious existence.. By using levkas, a traditional primer employed by icon painters, Zhuravel unites the legacies of Byzantine and Rus icon painting with his contemporary painterly technique. The result, richly vibrant and inventive contemporary works that emerge as modern-day icons.
