On February 6, 2024, Washington became the center of political and religious dialogues, hosting the annual National Prayer Breakfast. The event traditionally brings together politicians and representatives from various Christian movements. This year, Ukraine sent the largest delegation ever to attend.
The goal of the Ukrainian delegation: to open the eyes of the U.S. to religious oppression
The key goal of the Ukrainian delegation was to convey to the American authorities information about the numerous crimes committed by Russia against Christians in Ukraine, as well as about the systematic persecution of believers who do not belong to the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). A detailed analysis of the Ukrainian delegation’s trip to the U.S. was presented by The New York Times.
Convincing the US of the need for help: the religious factor
According to NYT, the main task of the delegation was to convince the U..S presidential administration of the importance of continued military support for Ukraine. The argument was to be the worsening threat to religious freedom and the very life of Christians in Ukraine due to Russia’s actions.
Who was included in the delegation?
The nearly 100-strong Ukrainian delegation included representatives from various religious denominations, MPs, as well as military chaplains. Among the famous participants were:
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Epifaniy.
People’s Deputy from the Holos party Roman Lozynskyi, representing the Greek Catholic Church
36 more people’s deputies of Ukraine
The Ukrainian delegation was counting on meeting with high-ranking American officials during the Prayer Breakfast in order to personally present evidence of crimes committed by Russia on religious grounds.
What Russian crimes were highlighted?
The Ukrainian delegation focused on the facts of persecution of clergy and believers of various denominations, in particular:
Roman Catholic Church
Greek Catholic Church
Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU)
Even the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in unity with the MP)
Numerous cases of:
Deportations of priests
Unmotivated arrests
Politically motivated convictions
Murders (according to various sources, nearly 50 cases)
In addition, the Ukrainian side emphasized the facts of persecution of religious minorities in Russia, in particular Baptists and Evangelicals.
Religion as a tool of influence: Ukrainian experience
The New York Times recalled that Ukraine has already successfully used the religious factor to obtain support from the United States. In particular, the conversation between the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and Ukrainian Christians was likely one of the factors that influenced the unblocking of the military aid package to Ukraine in the spring of 2024.
NYT emphasized that these efforts are aimed at persuading supporters of Donald Trump, who has expressed skepticism about the large military and financial assistance to Ukraine from the Biden administration.
Ukraine-U.S. Prayer Breakfast: details of the event
Information about the Prayer Breakfast and the participation of high-ranking politicians, such as Donald Trump and Mike Johnson, was covered on their official pages on X (Twitter). Both politicians confirmed their participation in the event on February 6, publishing relevant posts. Mike Johnson, in particular, shared a series of photos and a biblical quote. U.S. President Donald Trump noted in his post: that it is great to be back at the Prayer Breakfast. Let’s trust in God.
National Prayer Breakfast: A Historical Background
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event hosted in Washington, D.C. since 1953. The event brings together the U.S. political establishment, representatives from various Christian denominations, and international delegations.
