Page 7 - Ordinariate Scotland Review - Lent 2025
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News from The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in Scotland Page 7
On the third anniversary…
David Chapman
HREE YEARS ago
T Twe heard of the full-
scale invasion of Ukraine by
Russian forces. We thought be prayer that justice and
it would be but a short time peace should prevail.
before the situation was Prayers were offered
resolved and Ukraine could by The Right Revd
enjoy peace once more. Dame Sarah Mullally,
No-one thought that, three Bishop of London from
years on, the Ukrainian the Church of England;
Catholic Cathedral of the by Archbishop Nikitas
Holy Family in Exile, just Loulias, of the Greek
off London’s Oxford Street, Orthodox Archdiocese
would be filled to capacity of Thyateira and Great
with people of many Britain; by Archbishop
nationalities and faiths, Anba Angaelos OBE of the
together with faith leaders Coptic Orthodox Church
and political representatives, and by Bishop James Curry
gathered to pray again, of the Roman Catholic
most urgently, for peace and Diocese of Westminster.
justice. Each of these urged, in
This ‘Interfaith Prayer their own styles, prayer for
Service’ was a moving the people of Ukraine and
and dignified occasion, for peace. Perhaps the most
presided over with his usual powerful prayer was that
warmth by Bishop Kenneth offered by Rabbi Jonathan
Nowakowski. After he Wittenberg of the New
had called the large and London Synagogue and
vociferous congregation Senior Rabbi of Masorti
to prayer, Bishop Kenneth Judaism.
spoke movingly of the shock General Valerii Zaluzhnyi
and sadness he experienced from the Ukrainian
when war broke out – Embassy to the UK told the
feelings that, sadly, persist congregation that for three
to this day. He spoke also years the people of Ukraine
with immense gratitude for have been fighting for not
the support and friendship Phot ogr aphs: © B asil Y oudell just their land, but for
Photographs: © Basil Youdell
the Ukrainians experienced their freedom and justice.
from the British people. Pastor of Ss. Peter & Paul’s “Ukraine did not choose this
Garrison Church in Lviv,
Three candles were brought war, but we choose to fight to
forward, representing the three spoke of his ministry there – defend our cause, our families
including funerals every day.
years of warfare. The children He impressed on us the need to and our future.” He said that
of St Mary’s Ukrainian School pray, to hope and to love and Ukraine was “deeply grateful” to
then sang a song in English: the UK. “Your support gives us
these themes were repeated strength and hope.”
This is what we want. throughout the service. It was
This is what we need. most noticeable that there was Mere words cannot convey
Together we strive for peace. no bitterness or anger expressed the beauty and poignancy
Fr Taras Mykhalchuk, – as well there might have of the music which was part
been – but that there should of this service. The VIVO
