The Ukrainian Catholic University has given 43 fir trees to the Vatican. These beautiful Christmas trees from the Lviv Region will decorate St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and the Apostolic Palace during Christmas.

On November 30, UCU passed along the trees at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

“The university has joined the organization Ukrainian Christmas at the Vatican,” said Vice Rector for Administration and Development UCU Myroslav Senyk. “A piece of Ukraine will be in the Vatican, and after Christmas, because the seedlings will be planted, and they will grow in Italy.”

UCU has given the Vatican 43 fir saplings from forestlands in the Lviv Region. Three trucks equipped with special boxes transported the trees. On Monday, December 5, another truck with Christmas decorations will go to the Vatican.

Also, the Ukrainian Catholic University will also give the Vatican Christmas tree ornaments – 257 wooden ornaments (works of folk artists) and about two thousand glass balls. All ornaments are made in Ukrainian folk style.

According to Vice Rector Taras Dobko, giving Christmas trees and Christmas decorations to the Vatican is not only great prestige for our state, “it is also an example of church-state cooperation, because the ceremony will be attended by representatives of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Byzantine and Latin rites.”

On December 16, the main Christmas tree will be unveiled in the Vatican. The opening will be attended not only by bishops of the Catholic Churches of Ukraine of Latin and Byzantine rites but also by representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.