The Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Ukraine, Bishop Michael (Anishchenko) of Koman, spoke with Rada TV about church unity and role of the church in times of war.
“As soon as the war, this terrible Russian invasion began, the Church began to unite people. Those who may not have believed in God also began to turn to Him in prayer. They began to re-evaluate their lives, to pay attention to the spiritual life. And we know and see that in many churches of all denominations there has been an increase in worship services in order to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to rally people. So important is the fact that the Church joined the efforts to gather humanitarian aid in order to deliver it to those in need, in order to support the Armed Forces,” Bishop Michael told Rada TV.
“Prominent figures, such as our Ecumenical Patriarch, also condemned this military invasion from the first days, condemned the war in our country, and prayed constantly for an end to this war, for peace, for the victory of Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people. It is very important to call a spade a spade, to call the invaders invaders, to call the war a war, and condemn it,” the exarch stressed.
Asked by a journalist if it was possible to speak after the victory about the unification of churches, the exarch replied that he did not want to play a prophetic role and it is difficult to predict anything here.
“… Of course it all depends on society. Society is evolving and, again, there is a reassessment and many people are discovering new facets, including faith and attitudes towards the church and those people who for one reason or another are hypocritical. Let’s be honest. I think that this will be one of the factors that will contribute to the unification of the Church in Ukraine, help many people to achieve this unity, including through contribution of religious figures in helping the needy, helping refugees,” said Bishop Michael.
“By the way, you know that next week, at the invitation of Polish President Andrzej Duda, our Ecumenical Patriarch will visit Poland to meet with Ukrainian refugees, support them, and pray with them. This invitation came from both the President and the Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church. Metropolitan of Warsaw, Sawa. So we see that no one is left out. Everyone cares for Ukraine, for its people, for its nation, and they are trying to help and support us in a way that is accessible to them,” concluded Bishop Michael, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch.
