On Feb. 24, the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 1,000 people filled the pews in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for an ecumenical prayer vigil for Ukraine. The event was hosted by the Diocese of Cleveland and coordinated by the Cleveland Maidan Association.
Cleveland Bishop Edward Malesic and Bishop Bohdan Danylo, leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, partnered for the event. Each bishop also spoke from the pulpit. Cleveland Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost also participated in the prayer vigil.
More than two dozen Roman and Ukrainian Catholic, Ukrainian Orthodox and Protestant churches that serve and support the Ukrainian community lined the sanctuary during the event. A choir of Ukrainian children holding battery-operated candles filled the first few pews of the cathedral. They sang in both English and Ukrainian during the vigil, which included a Gospel reading, Bishop Malesic’s homily, a litany for peace in Ukraine, remarks by Bishop Danylo, a prayer for peace in Ukraine and music by a Ukrainian men’s choir. Musicians playing banduras, a Ukrainian string instrument, greeted vigil attendees as they entered the cathedral.
“I am honored to be here with you,” Bishop Malesic told the congregation and fellow religious leaders.
(See photo gallery above.)
“We gather tonight to offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of those killed in this war, and for healing and recovery for those who have been maimed,” he said, calling war “a failure for humanity.”
As for the children impacted by the fighting, Bishop Malesic said all children should be able to sing without fear. “No child should have to be put in the middle of fighting adults in a war.”
He said the elderly hoped they would never see a war again, “but now they have … Shattered buildings are not as horrible as shattered people.”
But there is hope, Bishop Malesic said. “Out of death comes life and Christ leads us from death to life.” He said many people in Northeast Ohio and beyond are giving hope to those affected by the war, including Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, which is helping to meet the needs of refugee families as they work to rebuild their lives.
Just as Jesus told us to welcome the stranger, the bishop said Catholic Charities and others are welcoming refugees. “We are all made stronger when we act together for one another. You make us stronger. You make us better,” he said.
“Two years ago, we came together here to pray for an end to the hostilities and to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We prayed for an end to all war. Even the heaviest mountain can be moved with prayer. Tonight, we offer prayers to heaven and ask God to look kindly on those who are suffering. We have faith in him. We know that God hears us. Let us pray for a lasting peace in Ukraine, Israel, Palestine Myanmar, Congo, Sudan, Somalia and wherever there is fighting,” the bishop said. “Let us also pray for pace in our own cities and homes and for a conversion of hearts as well as for the refugees among us, so that strangers become friends.”
In his remarks, Bishop Danylo said those in Ukraine and many around the world “continue to raise their voices to the Almighty Father asking him to shorten the days of pain. Stop the killing. I ask everyone to pray whatever prayers they say – be it Christian, Jewish, Muslim – just pray for peace. People of goodwill are standing for the same principle on which our nation of America was founded: freedom.”
Dr. Taras Mahlay, physician who put his medical career in Cleveland on hold after the Russian invasion of his homeland, coordinated the prayer vigil. He is president of the Cleveland Maidan Association and the Ukrainian Museum Archives in Cleveland as well as administrator and teacher at the Hryhory Kytasty Cleveland School of Bandura.
Pastor Nazar Klim, family ministry at Mission Church in Garfield Heights, also helped coordinate the vigil.
Marta Liscynesky Kelleher, president of the Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, offered remarks and asked for a swift end to the war.
Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter, Parma Ward 3 Councilman Mark Casselberry and U.S. Rep. Max Miller, R-Rocky River, were among the public officials in attendance. Parma is home to a large contingent of Ukrainians, many of whom live in the city’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood. A number of recent refugees from the war have settled in the area. Also attending was Lee C. Shapiro, regional director, American Jewish Committee Cleveland.
Ukrainian Army Lt. Myroslav Pylypchuk, who stepped on a Russian landmine and lost his left leg, was at the vigil in uniform. With help from a translator, he spoke to local media. Pylypchuk is being treated in Cleveland for his injuries,
“I wish I could go back and be with my colleagues, but due to the severe nature of my injury, I cannot,” he said, adding Ukraine depends on the support coming from other nations, especially the United States and Europe.
Also praying for peace were Dennis and Marina Serdichenko, who got to the service about an hour after arriving in Cleveland from their home in Odessa, Ukraine, where she was a military chaplain.
“It is getting harder and harder, worse and worse,” Serdichenko told reporters after the prayer vigil. “We are actually in great danger. Every day we are under bombing and rocket attacks. It’s hard, but we work and do everything we can to stop this evil and have a victory. We really believe that Ukraine will have freedom, that Ukraine will win.”
“Advocate, organize, raise your voices, visit our legislators,” urged Liscynesky Kelleher. “May God hasten the day that we all gather to celebrate victory.”
“We only want the Russians to leave and let us live in peace. Keep praying for an end to the war,” Bishop Danylo said.
He presented Bishop Malesic with a crucifix prior to the prayer vigil as a token of his appreciation.