Vilnius, Lithuania - UPF Lithuania held a commemoration of the International Day of Peace in Vilnius by holding an interreligious prayer gathering on the Hill of Three Crosses in Vilnius on Sept. 19, 2014.
This gathering was intended to extend symbolic support for those who are suffering and to symbolically demonstrate unity among the people of Lithuania. Among those at the gathering were the assistant mufti Mr. Romualdas Krinickis, the dissident and spiritual leader Mr. Petras Cidzikas and two representatives of the Subudo community.
During the meeting the message for the day by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was read as well as an excerpt from the UPF Founder’s speech given in 2005 when establishing the Universal Peace Federation. The Muslim leader offered a traditional prayer, and Mr. Cidzikas gave an address about the importance of seeking to be righteous, God-loving people. Some shared their thoughts on the occasion, and participants reported feeling uplifted and inspired.
Special recognition was given to Mrs. Elmira Urbanavichene for her initiative in organizing the meeting.
As part of UPF-Eurasia's Baltic Dialogue project, a group of long-distance runners set out from St. Petersburg Sept. 20, 2014 in a super-marathon for peace through neighboring Estonia and Latvia, ending in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 28. For more details, click here.