The 376th day of unprovoked and unjustifiable attempt to conquer Ukraine by the Russian Federation’s political regime brings new physical, moral and spiritual challenges to the people of Ukraine and the worldwide global community.
Since the offset of the military aggression on February 24, 2022 – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA via the Consistory Offices of Ministry, Central Church Organizations and local parish communities, responded with a resolve to offer immediate spiritual, material and emotional support to the effected and destroyed cities, villages and areas where thousands of people continue to live, while experiencing psychological, material and spiritual devastation.
The past 13 months of attempted invasion challenged the Charitable institutions of the UOC of the USA to look for new ways of delivering Humanitarian Aid and support to the wounded civilians and military personnel.
Lately, most of the charitable ministry has been centered around the small towns/villages of Kostyantynivka (which is only 20 miles away from Bahmut), Avdiivka, Sloviansk of Donbas region of Ukraine. Through the daily ministry of Very Rev. Fr. Kostyantyn Kuznetsov and his wife Natalia, pastor of the Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Kostyantynivka, the UOC of the USA is able to reach out the most remote and severely affected and destroyed towns and villages in the closest proximity to the front line.
Washing machines for the refugees and displaced people in the town of Avdiivka were obtained by the monetary donations to the Metropolia of the UOC of the USA.
His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, recently speaking with the donors of the Spiritual Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, stated: “…once you look at the images of the destroyed towns, villages and most importantly lives of people - you realize how precious human life and freedom are – the notions which the Lord often addresses in His teachings, instructing us to care for the heavenly treasures over the earthly where the thief and enemy can steal and destroy.
One must remember, the physical structures that have been destroyed can be rebuild, but the freedom loving right to live cannot and must NEVER be violated by political, secular and military attempts of invaders and those who harbor evil intentions against humanity in general.”
You too can help save the lives of innocent Ukrainians who suffer the brutality of war at the hands of the Russian military by donating to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Fund of the UOC of the USA.
Photos by Fr. Kostyantyn Kuznetsov, Fr. Evhen Shuvar and Deacon Andrii Sydor
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