Polish Dominican Friar Tomasz Samulnik describes daily life in a monastery in the center of Kiev

Newsroom (06/03/2022 17:50, Gaudium Press) The Dominican monastery of the Mother of God, located near the center of Kiev is experiencing difficult conditions with war on its doorstep.

Brother Tomasz Samulnik spoke about the daily life of the community of Dominicans against the backdrop of war.

“I wonder if we will be alive the next day”

“Every night I wonder if we will be alive the next day” said the religious man in an interview with Cath.ch agency.

The fear and stress are increased by not knowing what will be the next target of Russian attacks. Recently the television tower in Kiev was brought down by bombing; the tower is only a few meters away from the convent. 

At the time of the interview, the convent had five religious, three Polish and two Ukrainian, and fifteen other people who are sheltering there.

Friar Tomasz explained that the number of refugees varies every day because some decide to leave the city, others prefer to stay, others are looking for shelter.

In general, those who are in the most dangerous neighborhoods and who no longer have a basement to take shelter come knocking on the convent’s door.

An attempt at normalcy in the midst of war

Despite all the tension since the beginning of the war, the religious try to maintain normality in their activities.

On March 1, Ash Wednesday, Friar Tomasz went to celebrate Mass for about 40 people in a convent of the Sisters of Charity 13 kilometers away.

He said that the journey itself is dangerous and that he had to pass through several Ukrainian army checkpoints.

The Ukrainian military is intensifying inspections and controls because they fear the infiltration of pro-Russian separatists into the city.

Curfews and sirens

A curfew is in effect every day from 8 pm until 7 am, but even daytime travel is discouraged.

Night fights take place every day and whenever the alarm sirens go off, the refugees go down to the basement of the building.

The priest also talked about the difficulty in finding medicines because the pharmacies are practically all closed. Although markets and stores remain open, the queues are getting longer.

Religious life during the war

Despite all the danger and fear of war, the religious community has been committed to keeping the days filled with prayer.

The Liturgy of the Hours, Masses, the Rosary, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are part of daily life inside the convent and help give hope and strength to the faithful there. (FM)

 With information taken from Cath.ch 
Compiled by Camille Mittermeier