Our 6-year-old son, Andrew, leads our virtual (Zoom) rosary group in the recitation of the St. Michael the Archangel prayer each evening prior to going to bed.  To support his devotion, we were looking on-line for a statue or a photo of St. Michael when we came across this photo.  Andrew loved it and his eyes just lit up.  It was the gold accents on the shield, sword, and the wings.  Truthfully, we had never seen a more amazing depiction of St. Michael the Archangel in a life-size statue either.

This statue was built in 2001 in Independence Square, Kiev, Ukraine.  The people of Ukraine have long held a devotion to St. Michael the Archangel going back to the Golden-Domed Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel in 1108.  The USSR destroyed the Monastery in 1936, but it was rebuilt in 2000. St. Michael the Archangel has been featured prominently on the coat of arms for the city since the 17th century.  St. Michael remains a powerful protector, along with the Virgin Mary, over the people of Kyiv.  In addition, St. Andrew the Apostle proclaimed the gospel to the areas of Kyiv and further into Russia in the first century.  There is a church dedicated to him in Kyiv where he placed a cross.

We framed this picture and Andrew wanted to hang it on a wall in his room so he can look at it as he falls asleep each night.  We also gave a framed picture to our next-door neighbors (Olexiy, Svitlana, and their two sons), who departed Ukraine shortly after the first invasion in 2014.  We joined our neighbors in a peaceful demonstration on February 26th at 72nd and Dodge.  After returning home Andrew said he had “the best day ever” followed by “I got to help a country today”.  It is hearing their story, knowing Andrew’s devotion, and the belief that a City and Country that can dedicate itself to St. Michael the Archangel is worthy of our support.  We all can have that “best day ever” and “help a country today”.

It is through these items that the "Project" came to be.  The St. Micheal the Archangel Prayer, the needs of the people in Ukraine, and knowing that "I can help a country today".

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."