Help Ukrainians survive the war: LifeFunder
KYIV, Ukraine (LifeSiteNews) — The head of Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church is urging Catholics to pray and receive the sacraments amid the on-going attack on Ukraine by Russian forces, promising that priests will “come to the people” to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass even in bomb shelters.
In a video message put out Sunday morning, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych sent his greetings and noted that Ukrainians in the nation’s capital, currently under siege by Russian military units, had “survived yet another horrible night.”
Vatican News reported that during the video message Shevchuk, who has affirmed traditional Catholic teaching in the past by condemning gender ideology and calling out the grave immorality of homosexuality, asked Christians around the world to pray for Ukraine during its time of need, assuring Ukrainian Catholics that the Church would not abandon them.
Quick to give words of encouragement to those living in daily fear of Russian bombs and tanks, Shevchuk pointed out that after night “there comes day, there is morning. After darkness, there comes light, just as after death there comes resurrection, which we all today radiantly celebrate.”
“The Church is with its people,” the archbishop said. “The Church of Christ brings the Eucharistic Savior to those who are experiencing critical moments in their life, who need the strength and hope of the resurrection.”
Shevchuk called upon Catholics living through the horrific attacks which have stunned the world over the past days to go to God, receive the sacraments, and sacrifice for others.
“I would like to ask all those who have the opportunity to go to church: go to the Divine Liturgy! Today, go to Confession. Everyone receive Communion,” the Major Archbishop said, urging Catholics who are able to attend Mass to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist on behalf of “those who cannot go to church” and “for our soldiers.”
Noting that many residents of Kyiv are unable to attend Mass due to the curfews implemented by the Ukrainian government, which declared martial law last week in response to the Russian invasion, Shevchuk also told Catholics that “the Church will come to the people.”
According to Shevchuk, priests “will descend to the underground, they will descend to the bomb shelters, and there they will celebrate the Divine Liturgy.”
At least one photograph of a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest saying Mass in an underground bomb shelter has gone viral on social media, giving inspiration to many in Ukraine and around the world as Catholics seek out Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass amid war and destruction.
A Catholic priest celebrates the Eucharist for the faithful in a bomb shelter in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Oi3Ze71aPm
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) February 28, 2022
In his Sunday message Major Archbishop Shevchuk also called upon Catholics to pray for Ukraine’s soldiers, noting that “today our life is in their hands.”
The Catholic leader went on to express gratitude for Ukraine’s military, medics, and firefighters, all who have sent and are sending humanitarian aid and medicine, and everyone who is praying for peace.
According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), roughly 9% of Ukrainians, or about 3.6 million people, are Greek Catholics belonging to churches in the Byzantine rite, the majority of whom are under the leadership of Archbishop Shevchuk. Roughly 1% of Ukrainians are Catholics of the Roman rite, and are primarily concentrated in the west of the country.
Ukrainian Catholics had faced widespread persecution during the last century while Ukraine was part of the communist Soviet Union. Russia’s annexation of neighboring Crimea in 2014 renewed fears of conflict and persecution.
Then-Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine Archbishop Thomas Gullickson warned in 2014 that statements from the Kremlin had left “little doubt of Russian Orthodox hostility and intolerance toward Ukrainian Greek-Catholics.”
The American response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered significant debate on both sides of the political aisle and opened rifts among conservatives regarding how the U.S. should respond regarding Ukraine, which is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Some conservatives have argued that it’s not in the interest of the American people to become involved in a foreign conflict, particularly as major culture wars rage in the U.S. regarding critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and rampant abortion.
Other conservatives, however, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, have pointed out that Russia’s assault on Ukraine emboldens China’s aggression against Taiwan and could replace U.S. influence throughout the world with Russian authoritarianism.
Some pointed out that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could spark a far bigger conflict, especially if Russian forces proceed to attack neighboring NATO countries. Under NATO’s Article 5, a Russian attack on a NATO member country like Poland would allow for the direct military involvement of the U.S. and other allies, potentially catapulting the world into a new global conflict.
.@SecDef: America’s commitment to @NATO and to Article 5 remains ironclad. pic.twitter.com/6Erkn0GmHb
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 24, 2022
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to NATO’s actions with increasing belligerence. On Sunday Putin raised the combat readiness of Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces to high alert.
Peace talks held over the weekend between Russia and Ukraine ended without resolution, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has applied for his country’s acceptance into the European Union.
Meanwhile, many conservatives have raised concerns about the trustworthiness of mainstream media reports regarding the conflict in Ukraine, noting that some photographs, videos, and information which have been widely shared on social media and news outlets appear to be fake.
Help Ukrainians survive the war: LifeFunder