As Russian invasion of Ukraine enters fifth year, churches across the world pray for peace

Ecumenical prayer in St Sofia Cathedral, Kyiv with heads of Ukraine's churches, European leaders, President Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Source: WCC

Churches across the world prayed for peace and called for justice as Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its fifth year this week.

An ecumenical prayer for peace in Bern Cathedral, with participation of Bern churches and a chamber orchestra from Bakhmut, Ukraine, became more than a commemoration. Those gathered described it as "lament, intercession, and hope all at once."

Bishop Felix Gmür opened the service as "a space for silence amidst the noise of weapons."

The Council of Bishops' Conferences of Europe is leading a Lenten initiative, called the "Eucharistic Chain," that involves praying for peace in Ukraine and the Holy Land throughout Lent.

Each national Bishops' Conference has committed to organising at least one Mass to pray for the victims of war and to invoke from the Lord an "unarmed and disarming peace" in Ukraine, the Holy Land, and throughout the whole world.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate offered a liturgy with prayers for Ukraine's war victims.

"With patriarchal solemnity, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated on Clean Tuesday at the Patriarchal Cathedral at the Phanar, on the occasion of the Feast of the Finding of the Precious Head of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist," reported the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The service was presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who offered prayers for the spiritual strengthening of the faithful as they enter the ascetic journey of Holy and Great Lent.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a Trisagion service was offered for the repose of the souls of all victims of the war in Ukraine, marking four years since the Russian invasion of the country.

At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, people gathered to offer prayers for Ukraine and to unfurl a blue and yellow flag. The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel organized the initiative. Diplomats from the embassy, along with members of the community, Ukrainian Jews, and friends of Ukraine, unfurled a 30-metre Ukrainian flag. Over 150 participants attended the event.

An ecumenical prayer in the St Sofia Cathedral in Kyiv on 24 February gathered heads of Ukraine's churches and leaders of many European countries, along with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska.

Together, they prayed for blessings and help for Ukrainian soldiers, for a dignified peace, for the release of prisoners, for each and every person who was forced to leave their home, for all Ukrainians, and for the unity and resilience of the Ukrainian people.