Today, as you will have read in the news, is the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The World Council of Churches has reported on its news site that the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations (UCCRO) is holding a National Day of Prayer for a just peace, and is inviting various religious traditions in Ukraine and beyond to join in prayer.
“The war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of international norms and rules has brought immense suffering, grief, and losses to the Ukrainian people,” says UCCRO in its call for prayer. “The war has caused the deaths of thousands upon thousands of Ukrainians, the brutal violation of human rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including targeted religious persecution; the abduction of Ukrainian children, horrific treatment of military personnel and civilian prisoners, the destruction of cities and civilian infrastructure in our country”, it says. “At this time, we honour the memory of every defender who gave his or her life and health for Ukraine, and we offer prayers that God may strengthen and comfort their families.”
It goes on: “Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations calls on representatives of various religious traditions in Ukraine and beyond to turn to the Almighty on this day, asking for a just peace for Ukraine:
“God the Great, the One, protect Ukraine for us! We invoke God’s blessing upon Ukraine and the Ukrainian people!”
Read the full story on the World Council of Churches website, here. See the call to prayer on the UCCRO website here.