Conversions increasing as 'Ukraine defends peace in Europe with its blood', says archbishop

Mass at Three Holy Hierarchs Seminary, Knyazhychi, Kyiv ©ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

The war in Ukraine is seeing a surge in conversions, according to the head of Ukrainian Greek Catholics, who says traumatised people are turning to priests who act "as "wounded healers".

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk spoke to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about the profound spiritual impact of the war, describing a "significant period of conversion".

The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) went on to say Ukraine's war effort is acting as a buffer against Russian aggression in Europe but that the faithful feel forgotten by people around the world, which while people feel internationally forgotten, their faith is increasing amid suffering.

He said: "This is the most significant period of conversion in the recent history of our nation…Ukraine is defending peace in Europe with its own blood.

"This is not a metaphor, this is reality."

According to figures shared by the Major Archbishop, since the war started, the percentage of citizens who belong to traditional Orthodox Churches has dropped from 70 percent to around 52 percent, while the Greek Catholic Church, though still a minority, has grown from around eight percent of the population to 12 percent.

He said people were asking themselves existential questions about the conflict: "Why? Does my pain have a meaning? Is there hope? Where is God in the midst of this war?

"And there are no answers to these questions outside of the Christian faith.

"That is why this time of pain is also a kairos, a time of grace during which we are seeing large-scale conversions."

Explaining the role of the Ukrainian church he added: "This is the work we all share, every priest in every parish. We are in mourning. It is painful to preside over countless funerals every day - to bury young people and children, it takes a deep toll on you.

"Each one of the bishops carries within them the pain of their own people, which we have to share…we can console those people who are not looking for miracles, but for presence, the sacrament of the presence of the Church through the priest.

"When the state orders the evacuation of civilians for safety reasons, the priest is always the last to leave."

With the war with Russia now in its fifth year, the Major Archbishop spoke of the lack of international interest.

He said: "It hurts us deeply that the world forgets this war. Sometimes we get the feeling that the world does not understand us, that it doesn't get the scale of this tragedy. There are rivers of blood running through Ukraine every day."

According to a recent survey conducted by the UGCC, more than half its priests live below the poverty line - 38 percent said clothes were unaffordable, and three percent struggled to buy food.

The Major Archbishop said "92 percent of those surveyed said they are happy serving our people. That brought tears to my eyes...the priests have to listen, to accompany and, sometimes, simply remain in silence. What can you say to a mother who has just lost her son?"

The UCCG launched an ongoing training and psycho-spiritual rehabilitation programme, with help from ACN, "so that priests and religious can offer adequate pastoral care. They are truly 'wounded healers'. This project has high demand in the dioceses."

The archbishop said "the war will end, because evil is not eternal. The Lord is eternal, and love is eternal".

He called on the world to "pray hard for our people to be freed from the slavery of war".

"Today, in Ukraine, hope is real and palpable. In Ukraine, we pray for peace every day."

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org