Vatican issues stamp showing Kyiv cathedral during blackout

The Vatican released a stamp honouring Ukraine's Catholics that depicts Kyiv's Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in a blackout, and Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk called the release "a great moment of consolation."

The Vatican has issued a new postage stamp honouring Ukraine's Catholics that depicts Kyiv's Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ during an electricity blackout. The design is an uncommon reference for Vatican stamps, which more often show religious figures or holidays. The release took place during the week marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The stamp also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Kyiv diocese's restoration and the cathedral's 12th anniversary. Key details: - The image shows the cathedral darkened by a loss of electricity while the evening sky provides illumination. - Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk described the release as "a great moment of consolation" and said the faithful feel embraced by the Holy See. - The cathedral has also been used as a shelter during the war and was called a "centre of resistance" by Shevchuk. - The stamp was issued during the fourth-anniversary week of the invasion, marks anniversaries for the local diocese and cathedral, and is sold at 1.35 euros through the Vatican Postal Service. Summary: The stamp is an uncommon, public reference by the Vatican that links a religious commemoration with conditions faced by Ukrainians during the ongoing war; church officials described the issue as consoling. Undetermined at this time.