On January 1, there is a mass prayer in the world, because this date is World Day of Prayer for Peace. The founder of the event is Pope Paul VI. The holiday was celebrated for the first time on December 8, 1967. Two years later, the UN General Assembly recognized the day as official, gave it that name and approved the motto: “Forgive, and you will know peace.”

IN world day of prayers for peace priests appeal to believers with a message of peace, urge not to continue enmity, international conflicts and wars, forgive enemies, fight violence, defend human rights, build peace on Earth, bear responsibility for their actions and make their own contribution to peaceful coexistence. Believers pray to God on this day, begging him to stop wars and establish peace.

• The question of peace is still acute in our time, because in addition to Ukraine, 80 other military conflicts (active and frozen) continue on the world map. Many of them are very violent and bloody, such as Syria, Israel and Palestine, Somalia and South Sudan, clashes and conflicts in Africa.