Throughout US, worshippers search solidarity at Ukrainian church buildings, pray for peace

CHICAGO (RNS) — All people at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral has household in Ukraine, mentioned Tamara Nosa. It’s why she introduced her household to the church in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village on Sunday morning, realizing how many individuals would end up for the Divine Liturgy, together with Roman Catholic Cardinal Blase Cupich and Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk.

Nosa, 38, of suburban Plainfield, Illinois, mentioned Sunday (Feb. 27) she is glad to see so many individuals protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, standing outdoors the cathedral surrounded by indicators sporting the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag and emblazoned with messages of assist for the nation, Nosa nonetheless felt discouraged. Nothing is altering, she mentioned.

The invasion continues. She checks in every day together with her household outdoors the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, the place they’re hiding of their basement. They’ll hear sirens blaring outdoors.

What else is left to do however pray?

“I’m instructing my youngsters let’s go to church and pray. I believe like God’s possibly going to assist, I’m hoping, as a result of no one helps proper now,” she mentioned. “I believe we misplaced hope, you realize? And it’s actually, actually unhealthy.”

Tamara Nosa, far left, and her household outdoors St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Chicago. RNS picture by Emily McFarlan Miller

In cities with a few of the largest Ukrainian populations in america, worshippers prayed for peace and an finish to warfare Sunday as Russia threatened its western neighbor for the fourth straight day.

“In the present day we’re all Ukrainians,” mentioned Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago.

RELATED: Residents of Chicago’s Ukrainian Village rally on steps of church as Russia invades Ukraine

In Chicago — the place greater than 54,000 folks within the metropolitan space determine as having Ukrainian ancestry, according to 2019 U.S. Census estimates — a number of Catholic church buildings held particular Plenty and rosaries over the weekend to wish for peace in Ukraine and an finish to the warfare. All rang their bells at midday Sunday in solidarity with the Ukrainian folks — one thing they’ll repeat on Ash Wednesday, when Pope Francis has asked all believers and nonbelievers alike to quick and pray for peace.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Blase Cupich speaks at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Chicago. RNS picture by Emily McFarlan Miller

Sunday’s liturgy at St. Nicholas was sung by a choir of moms and daughters — becoming, Cupich mentioned, as “this second is a chance for the entire world to mirror on what sort of world we need to depart to future generations.

“It’s our second within the historical past of the world to say, ‘Cease. No extra. We wish a special world for our kids.’ That’s what this second is all about. That’s the reason your entire world is elevating its voice in outrage, but additionally assist,” the cardinal mentioned.

RELATED: Prayers and despair: Ukrainians in the US decry invasion

In New York Metropolis’s East Village neighborhood, Saint George Ukrainian Catholic Church welcomed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic archbishop of New York, to hitch them in prayer.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan speaks at Saint George Ukrainian Catholic Church, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in New York. RNS picture by Renée Roden

New York Metropolis is dwelling to the most important group of Ukrainian immigrants within the U.S., with round 130,000 within the 5 boroughs and tens of hundreds extra throughout the river in New Jersey. A lot of them dwell within the East Village.

Bishop Paul Chomnycky, Ukrainian Catholic eparch of the Stamford diocese that envelops New York and far of New England, mentioned one of many first telephone calls he bought after the invasion was from Dolan, providing assist.

“It’s precisely in occasions like this that true mates present themselves,” Chomnycky mentioned.

Dolan beforehand had visited Saint George in 2014, through the Russian takeover of Crimea, he reminded the congregation, which included Roman and Ukrainian Catholics and even a state senator — Carolyn Maloney, the East Village’s consultant in Albany. 

“Once you and I don’t know what else to do, we pray,” the cardinal mentioned.

RELATED: How to help Ukrainians today: Organizations providing aid

Close to Pittsburgh, a banner outdoors St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church additionally urged prayer for Ukraine.

Folks attend St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2021, close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. RNS picture by Kathryn Submit

Roughly 40 folks gathered for worship Sunday within the colourful, incense-filled sanctuary within the Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Greater than 20,000 folks of Ukrainian ancestry name the Pittsburgh area their dwelling, according to 2019 U.S. Census estimates.  

The Rev. John Charest, who has been on the 118-year-old parish for 3 years, gave a sermon on Matthew 25 — a gospel passage wherein Jesus says those that served “the least of those” additionally served him.

“I’m amazed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, all of the workings he’s doing proper now,” Charest mentioned, pointing to the outpouring of assist for Ukraine.  

However Charest didn’t sugarcoat the gravity of the invasion, which he says has been consuming nearly all his time and vitality. A 3rd-generation Ukrainian, he and his spouse are working to undertake three Ukrainian kids who’re at the moment residing with a foster household in Kyiv.  

“There was no less than one night time the place they went subsequent door and hid within the basement as a result of the sirens had been going off,” he mentioned. “They haven’t seen any fight with their very own eyes, they’re staying in the home. However they see the planes and so they hear stuff. And so they’re very nervous.” 

A Pray For Ukraine signal hangs outdoors St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2021, close to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. RNS picture by Kathryn Submit

Charest mentioned he hadn’t anticipated Russia would launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However as he wrestles with disbelief, denial and even righteous anger, he warns towards anti-Russian sentiment.  

“I need to be anti-war, and pro-peace,” Charest mentioned. “That’s the place I’m attempting to information my folks. Please don’t hate anyone. That’s what bought us into this mess.”  

Victor Onufrey, who has been attending St. Peter and Saint Paul’s for the reason that Nineties, is the son of Ukrainian immigrants. His spouse can be from Ukraine and has household there.  

“We pray, and we ask God to guard our nation,” Onufrey mentioned. “And I don’t pray for Russians to die, however I pray that these guys lay down their arms and simply say, ‘no combating.’” 

A retired colonel from the Air Nationwide Guard, Onufrey thinks the invasion is motivated by Putin’s want to rebuild the Russian empire.  

“I don’t suppose faith is anyplace close to a main cause for this battle,” he mentioned. “I hope that with time, the frequent Orthodox religion of each side will deliver us collectively greater than it drives us aside.”

Folks attend St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Chicago. RNS picture by Emily McFarlan Miller

In 2019, the ecumenical patriarch of the Japanese Orthodox Church acknowledged the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Russian Orthodox Church has refused to acknowledge the Ukrainian church’s independence.  

St. Peter and St. Paul’s parish led a moleben, or prayer service, on Thursday and is getting ready to serve an inflow of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the warfare. Members are additionally attending native rallies, and the church is partnering with a neighboring Ukrainian Catholic church to carry weekly prayer providers till there’s peace in Ukraine.  

“We all know God is love,” Charest mentioned. “Sure, there are horrible issues happening, however God remains to be there.” 

Renée Roden reported from New York. Kathryn Submit reported from Pennsylvania.