The Community of St. Egidio in Ukraine Initiates Prayer for Peace in Syria and World
A Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East, and around the world was held in Kyiv on September 7. The prayer was led by the parish of St. Nicholas Church, together with the Community of St. Egidio. It was attended by over 80 people,” says RISU correspondent Olha Makar.
“I came to this prayer because it is the only thing I can do, but I believe that it is something, a joint prayer can do anything,” Artem Babak, a participant at the prayer, told RISU correspondent Olha Makar. “A country divided by war requires dialogue rather than bombing one side. It's no secret that civilians suffer the most, so that is why I'm against war. I care about Syria, because it is a beautiful country and I want to be closer with the people who are suffering. I only see one way to resolve the Syrian war – constant dialogue efforts by representatives of the government and the opposition.”
“God does not want war and there is never a reason for one, only a person who departs from God begins to destroy everything around...The true source of love and peace comes from the wounds of Jesus. Only such love brings peace to the troubled heart of man,” Fr. Arkadiush Tsikhlia, rector of the church, said in his homily.
“The community of St. Egidio joined the pope’s initiative, which took place in hundreds of cities in America, Africa, Pakistan, where Christians live in very difficult conditions,” says Yuriy Lifanse, chairman of the community in Kyiv. “In Ukraine the community initiated a prayer in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kyiv. Together with us in Ukraine prayed hundreds of people, mostly ordinary people: the young, the elderly, who are best aware of the horror of war because some remember it, monks and nuns.”
During the prayer, participants lit candles for peace in countries with ongoing conflicts. “There was a miracle: on Saturday at all the community’s prayers a candle was lit for peace in the Central African Republic, and on Monday, at the Church of St. Egidio, which is the heart of the community, representatives of various parties signed a reconciliation agreement after months of difficult negotiations!” says Yuriy Lifanse. “The negotiators were at the vigil with Pope Francis, and when the pope spoke of the need for reconciliation, they looked around, smiled, and took each other by the hands. So peace in the Central African Republic is also the fruit of prayer.”
The community of St. Egidio continues to pray for Syria – prayers and various events (meetings, lectures, etc.) will continue until there is peace in the country. “First, we believe that prayer can change a lot. Second, we don’t want Ukrainians to turn a blind eye to the war, pretending that they know nothing about it. We are ashamed that our country does not support Syrian asylum seekers, that they do not qualify for refugee status... Also, when talking about Syria, we talk about all wars, about violence – that they lead to nothing; we need dialogue, a culture of meeting,” Anastasia Hrynenko, community member and student at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, shares her thoughts.
The next event for peace will be the 27th International Prayer for Peace, which will be held in late September in Rome. This is a major meeting of leaders of world religions, important people from the world of politics and culture, intellectuals. This year it is called “The Courage to Hope.”
