By Dan Sherven
In January 2014, Pope Francis released two doves from the Pontifical Apartment in St. Peter’s Square as a symbolic gesture for peace in Ukraine, following the Russian takeover of Crimea. The two doves were attacked after taking flight, by a crow and a seagull.
Donbass is a region in southeastern Ukraine, which was controlled by the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic, and Luhansk People’s Republic. It has been a contested region for years.
Father Vasyl Tymishak, of St. Athanasius Ukrainian Catholic Church in Regina, shares how his Church is responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Since 2014, Ukraine has been fighting for Donbass and in the beginning of this year we understood the threat Ukraine faced with more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed on its eastern border, which ended with the full invasion.” Tymishak says.
Tymishak has many ties to Ukraine. “I was born and raised in Ukraine and I moved to Canada in 2017. Obviously, I am very concerned for the safety of my family in western Ukraine. Now there is no safe place in Ukraine, every area is in danger.”
“All the time I am in contact with my family and friends who live in Ukraine, assuring them with our prayers, solidarity, and showing them our support. People from Ukraine are grateful for all forms of support: spiritual, moral, and financial.”
The Ukrainian Catholic Church is in full communion with the Catholic Church. However, instead of being part of an Archdiocese, the Ukrainian Catholic Church is overseen by a similar hierarchy called an Eparchy.
“[The Ukrainians] are in danger, but they are strong as they live on their land and believe in the values of liberty, freedom, dignity, and justice.” Tymishak says. “We are united in prayer with our Ukraine and with people of all faiths. People from Ukraine say they feel the support of the prayers.”
The situation Ukraine finds itself in reminds Fr. Tymishak of a New Testament passage: “It reminds me of the Gospel of John. Jesus, at the most dramatic moment of his life, when he is about to be captured, humiliated, tortured, and killed, says to his followers: ‘Have courage: I have won the world.’ (John 16:33).
“Jesus’ promise is not a future promise. It does not assure ‘I will win’, but affirms that He has already won. Why? For Jesus and those who, like Him, are always placing themselves at the side of Life, Light, and Truth — they will always be victorious over the lie, darkness, and every form of death.”
Fr. Tymishak prays for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I pray that God helps him make wise decisions during this difficult time for Ukraine and its people.”
Tymishak says support for the president is strong. “He has shown he is with his people. Zelenskyy is unanimously supported by Ukraine and the world. He has been greeted by the British Parliament’s applause, the U.N., and his images are placed on the covers of the most famous newspapers.”
St. Athanasius, where Fr. Tymishak is a priest, is one of two Ukrainian Catholic Churches in Regina. The other is St. Basil’s.
“Here in Regina we are close with our parishioners who have family in Ukraine.” Tymishak says. “First of all, with our spiritual support and moral support in various forms of prayer — together with Ukrainian Orthodox Churches — [our parishioners] know their native country is a strong friend of Canada’s and [our parishioners] are grateful for all the support. Both the support for them and for the Ukrainian people.”
Most people in Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian Catholic Church have Ukrainian roots, Tymishak says.
“The news of this absurd war, the harrowing images of destruction, pain, and death as Russia invaded Ukraine by air, sea, and land on February 24th — my parishioners are particularly troubled by the risks our family members face in Ukraine. The parishioners are worried about the safety of their loved ones in the conflict zones.”
The Ukrainian Catholic Church is actively praying for those in Ukraine, and for Canadians with family in Ukraine, Tymishak says. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is also raising donations to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
“We continue to pray for peace.” Tymishak says. “However at this point, it has become clear that the aggressor is not interested in respectful, neighbourly relations. So we pray that Ukrainians can defend themselves and survive on their land. We pray for Ukrainians who are weak and powerless to take refuge in safe countries, to survive in bomb shelters and basements.
“We pray that Ukrainians in the midst of thunder and fire may maintain hope for life, truth, and victory. We pray that humanity can help Ukrainians, and that they don’t seek solace in hatred, but seek comfort in God. We pray the Russian aggressors recognize and cease the evil they are committing, and malice be replaced with a spirit of wisdom, understanding, and justice.”
Tymishak is grateful for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, who condemned the Russian invasion. He wants to encourage “the faithful, and all people of good will, to pray for the restoration of peace, dialogue, and human fraternity. We are also grateful for prayers and support by Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in Saskatchewan, and other Christian Churches as well as leaders of other religions.”
Tymishak says the Ukrainian Eparchial Bishops in Canada have also condemned the eight year conflict in Ukraine, beginning with the Russian occupation of Crimea. (The Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Ukraine itself, also condemned the conflict.)
“People from all over the world are praying for Ukraine in this moment.” Tymishak says. “They realize the war in Ukraine is not just a war against Ukraine, but that very dramatic scenarios could play out for the whole European continent, because in recent decades Europe has been facing a security crisis.”
Prayer has been one of the central ways Tymishak is responding to the war.
“In union with millions of Christians around the world, we pray for peace — responding to the call of the Holy Father with our faith that ‘prayer is stronger than any weapon’. Tymishak says. “Whatever the end of this war will be, Ukraine has already won because it lives by values that cannot be killed by any weapon. Ukrainians are not only winners, they are more than winners.”
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Dan Sherven is the author of three books: Light and Dark, Classified: Off the Beat ‘N Path, and Live to the Point of Tears. Here you can find his books, articles, podcasts, and more: https://linktr.ee/dansherven |
