The Vatican has issued a stamp in honour of Ukrainian Catholics
This was reported by Reuters.
The stamp was presented during the week coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. The design depicts the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv without lighting, against the backdrop of an orange evening sky.
The article notes that the Vatican Postal Service usually avoids political motifs in stamp designs and prefers images of religious figures or holidays. The new stamp refers to the daily difficulties Ukrainians face due to power outages.
Blackouts have become commonplace in Ukraine following Russia's attacks on energy infrastructure, including power grids and power plants.
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, called the stamp's release a "great moment of consolation" during a presentation at the Vatican. According to him, this demonstrates the Holy See's attention to the history and life of Ukrainians during the war.
The stamp was issued to mark the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the Kyiv Catholic Diocese after the fall of the Soviet Union and the 12th anniversary of the construction of the cathedral.
The cathedral was also used as a bomb shelter during the war. Sviatoslav Shevchuk called it a "centre of resistance."
About 10% of Ukrainians belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which follows the Eastern rite and is in communion with Rome. The majority of Ukraine's population is Orthodox.
The stamp has a face value of €1.35, which is the cost of sending a standard letter within Europe. The Vatican has had its own postal service since 1929.
