Archbishop Volodemer Koubetch warns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would result in the restoration of the “former empire of domination, slavery and death.”
Gaudium Press English Edition
Newsdesk (20/01/2022 20:20, Gaudium Press): The Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Saint John the Baptist, Brazil, Volodemer Koubetch, has published a letter in which he asks the entire Catholic Church in Brazil – of both the Latin and Eastern rites – to pray for peace in Eastern Europe, in particular for Ukraine.
In the letter published by Regional South 2 of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Volodemer Koubetch reports that Ukraine has been in conflict with Russia since 2014. Recently the country has suffered strong threats of a new Russian military invasion.
The Archbishop warns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would result in the restoration of the “former empire of domination, slavery and death.”
The conflict began with Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Since then the war has left 14,000 Ukrainians dead, more than 30,000 injured, and 1.5 million people affected by the dispute.
In his missive, Archbishop Volodemer Koubetch explains that half a million Brazilians are of Ukrainian descent and that many have relatives in the threatened provinces, which makes the war in Ukraine “a matter for Brazil, as a country and as a Church”.
Next January 22nd marks the day of the unification of Ukraine. Archbishop Volodemer asked that on January 22nd and 23rd the intention for the unity, prosperity, peace and independence of Ukraine in the face of the Russian threat be present in the Holy Masses. (FM)
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The full letter can be read below:
To the Catholic Churches in Brazil: of the Latin Rite and the Eastern Rites
REQUEST FOR PRAYER FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE
“In solidarity with the Ukrainian people and nation and the suffering Church in Ukraine, both Latin and Byzantine, on behalf of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolian St. John the Baptist, based in Curitiba (PR), and also the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation, headed by Dr. Vitório Sorotiuk, I humbly request all the Catholic Churches in Brazil – the Latin and the Eastern Melkite, Maronite, Armenian and the Ukrainian Catholic Church itself – congregated in the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), to pray for peace in Eastern Europe and especially in Ukraine.”
“Since 2014, Ukraine has suffered from the illegal occupation of Crimea and the war of aggression in the eastern Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. This war has cost Ukraine more than 14,000 dead, more than 30,000 injured, and 1.5 million internally displaced persons. For several months now, Russia has again been threatening a new invasion of Ukrainian sovereign territory to re-establish its former empire of domination, slavery and death.”
“Ukrainians are part of the Brazilian nation. More than half a million Brazilians are of Ukrainian descent and have their families in Ukraine under Russian threat. The Ukrainian issue is also an issue for Brazil, as a country and as a Church. Brazil is a democratic, hospitable, multicultural, caring and Christian nation, whose people have always shown enormous solidarity in the face of the suffering and have acted exemplarily on humanitarian fronts.”
“January 22nd is Unity Day in Ukraine, an appropriate occasion to intensify humanism and solidarity. In view of the dramatic situation experienced by our Ukrainian brothers and sisters, I ask that on January 22nd and 23rd, in the celebrations of Holy Mass, the intention of a fervent request for unity, prosperity and peace be placed in support of Ukraine’s independence and to prevent a new Russian invasion.”
“Trusting in the power of prayer, I thank you and ask that God’s blessing and peace touch your hearts.”
Most Rev. Volodemer Koubetch, Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolian St. John the Baptist
Father Valdecir Badzinski, Executive Secretary of CNBB South 2
Compiled by Roberta MacEwan
