Prayers for war veterans and peace were heard in St. Bartholomew Cathedral

St. Bartholomew's Cathedral became a place of profound silence and joint prayers today as part of the Liberation Festival. A solemn Holy Mass was held here, commemorating the heroism of the liberators and the value of peace in today's world. The atmosphere of the opening of the service was underlined by a procession in historical military uniforms, which entered the packed cathedral to the captivating accompaniment of a Scottish bagpiper. The entire ceremony was dedicated to the memory of the fallen, deceased and still living war veterans.

During the mass, Father Bishop Tomáš Holub made a profound appeal, turning to God in his prayer for the contemporary world: “We stand here before you and we ask you to help the world that is affected by violence and grant peace to people. Strengthen in the hearts of those who have responsibility for this world the courage to defend true justice, freedom and dignity of all people. Strengthen the determination of all who put their strength into the fight against evil. Heal the hearts of men and women who, blinded by hatred and selfishness, do not hesitate to use violence to achieve their goals. Awaken in us sensitivity to the suffering and willingness to help them. Teach us to forgive those who have wronged us and to ask for forgiveness from those whom we ourselves have harmed.”

These powerful words resonated through the cathedral as a reminder that freedom and peace are not a given, but values ​​that must be constantly strived for and prayed for.

The mass was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic, Karel Řehka, and other distinguished guests, including family members of American and Belgian war veterans.