Prayer service to be hosted on Orthodox Easter for Ukrainians
The Rev. Michael Kirkland considers himself Ukrainian, not by blood but by his spiritual heritage.
The Orthodox priest was ordained by Ukrainian refugees and now leads St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Albany.
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His spiritual heritage, the war between Russia and the Ukraine, and the fact that Orthodox Easter, Pascha, occurs around the same time as Judaism's Passover are reasons Kirkland wanted to do something for Ukrainian people.
So he considered what he knew best: prayer.
So at 4 p.m. Sunday on Pascha, Kirkland is hosting a prayer service for Ukrainian people at Holy Resurrection Church, 4611 Glenmawr Ave, on Columbus' Northeast Side.
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Many Ukrainian people, approximately 69%, identify as Orthodox Christians, according to the Association of Religious Data Archives (ARDA).
"We want to make it known we're standing firm," he said. "God's going to make a miracle for our people. It's in God's hands."
As of Tuesday, approximately 2,104 civilians in Ukraine had been killed and 2,862 injured since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.
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As Kirkland watched news reports of the war in Ukraine — and of people fighting for their lives — he felt called to do something.
"We have to make a stand, we have to do something," he said. "If we can help others in any way, that's what we're going to do."
St. Nicholas doesn't have a building; instead about six people gather each Sunday in a small chapel in Kirkland's residence for services.
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But Kirkland hopes many more will gather at Holy Resurrection, a local Melkite Greek Catholic church Kirkland has worked with in the past, for Sunday's prayer service. He plans to pray for peace in Ukraine and an end to the war, he said.
For "those who are living, who have escaped, who are suffering now. We're going to pray for the families here."
There will be also refreshments, the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem, prayers in the Ukrainian language, a Ukrainian cake and a celebration of Pascha.
Orthodox Easter is a huge event for Orthodox Christians. It usually falls on a different date than Protestant and Catholic Easter celebrations, April 17 this year, because it is based on the Julian calendar — not the more-widely used Gregorian one.
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The two traditions — the Orthodox or Eastern church and the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, then called the Western church — split in the 11th century, when tension grew from differences in theology, liturgy and views of authority, according to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Praying and intercession to the saints is important in the life of Ukrainian Christians, Kirkland said.
Marianne Klochko, president of the Ukrainian Cultural Association of Ohio, has been leaning on prayer and her religion personally during this time. The Powell resident has friends and family in the Ukraine and is frustrated by what she sees as a lack of action by the United States and world leaders when it comes to the war.
She said the group has seen an outpouring of support since the war started more than 50 days ago.
"The church community is very helpful," said Klochko, who attends a local Orthodox church. "There's definitely a power of people coming together and praying for one common cause."
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There are a lot of prayers for intercession, said Klochko.
"Sometimes there's nothing left but to pray and hope the transgressors will be punished and there will be peace and some kind of higher power will intercede," she said.
Though Klochko is relying on her faith at this time, she said the larger situation with the Orthodox church and the Catholic church is unfortunate and frustrating.
In Russia, a Russian Orthodox church leader, Patriarch Kirill, has supported the war and Russia, something that has put Orthodox Christians who are Ukrainian at odds with the church.
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"There has been calls for excommunication of the Russian Orthodox Church or at least the leader, Kirill, and even the other Russian priests," Klochko said. "What he does, supporting the war, is a very unchristian thing. Calling for death, calling for destruction is the opposite of what Christians should stand for."
After more than 50 days of war, Klochko knows people are feeling fatigued when it comes to seeing the news and supporting people in the Ukraine, but she wants to remind people that the war is not over.
Kirkland hopes people will attend the prayer service Sunday in order to take some time to do something for others while also appreciating their own safety and blessings.
"We're all still the people of God," he said. "There's a lot to pray for. You can't pray enough for what's going on."
dking@dispatch.com
@DanaeKing
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Albany Orthodox church to host prayer service for Ukrainian people
