Danish and Swedish royals attend church service on anniversary of invasion of Ukraine

The Danish and Swedish royals have attended a church service to mark the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

The 24th of February marks four years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark attended a service in Holmen’s Church, alongside the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Søren Gade, and representatives of the government.

Holmen’s choir performed the Ukrainian prayer “Prayer for Ukraine”, a hymn from 1885 with lyrics by Oleksandr Konysky and music by Mykola Lysenko. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Peter Skov-Jakobsen of the Diocese of Copenhagen. Speeches were held by the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Søren Gade and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. A reading was held by Father Sergiy Berezhnoy from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Photo: Henrik Garlöv/Royal Court of Sweden

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden attended an ecumenical peace prayer for Ukraine in the Palace Church at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. They were joined by the Speaker of the Riksdag, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and a large crowd of Ukrainians. 

The prayer was held by Father Andrii Linkevych from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Stockholm, Father Andrii Melnichuk from the Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Stockholm, and Pastor and Ordinary Court Chaplain Michael Bjerkhagen from the Royal Court Assembly.