In the quiet corners of Eastern Ukraine, behind the walls of makeshift shelters and repurposed buildings now serving as homes for the elderly displaced by war, there lives a generation who once cradled this nation in their arms - and now find themselves cradled in the mercy of strangers.

But those strangers are, in truth, brothers and sisters in Christ. Through the compassion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (UOC of the USA), and the hands of faithful clergy like the Very Reverend Fr. Kostyantyn Kuznetsov and his wife Natalia, a holy ministry is unfolding - one gift bag, one visit, one conversation at a time.

Fr. Kostyantyn recently visited a home for the elderly where nearly all residents are refugees, many suffering from physical disabilities and almost all bearing the wounds of abandonment. Some speak with joy when guests arrive - recounting stories of their youth, their homes, the gardens they tended, the children they once held. Others, however, remain silent, lost in the silence of deep sorrow.

“There are those who are silent,” Fr. Kostyantyn shared, “and the pain of loneliness pierces their hearts and confuses their souls. You are not alone in the room, and yet... your closest relatives have abandoned you. With you, there is only deep longing and tears.”

Yet amid this sorrow, hope was brought in humble gifts: meat and dairy, pasta and sweets, hygiene products, cool refreshing drinks - and a small chocolate bar for each person. But greater than these material gifts was the offering of presence. Laughter was shared, stories were exchanged, tears were wiped, hands were held.

“We chatted, consoled each other a little, made them laugh and cheered them up,” said Fr. Kostyantyn. “We reminded them: You are not forgotten. You are loved.”

For Archbishop Daniel, spiritual father of the UOC of the USA, this sacred ministry to the elderly holds profound spiritual meaning: “In every wrinkled face is a story. In every silent tear is a lifetime of prayer. Our elders are not a burden - they are the living roots of our Church, our nation, our identity,” Archbishop Daniel has often said.

“Especially in a time of war, when so many elderly people are left behind or displaced, we must become their family. If the Church forgets them, we have forgotten Christ Himself.”

This understanding - deeply rooted in Orthodox teaching and Gospel love - compels the UOC of the USA to care not only for the young and strong, but especially for the vulnerable and aged.

“Honor your father and mother,” the Scriptures teach, “that your days may be long.” And Fr. Kostyantyn echoes this truth with heart-stirring simplicity: “People, respect your parents, your grandparents. They really need to talk. They need to feel needed. And may God never let us know what loneliness is.”

The humanitarian outreach of the UOC of the USA does not end at the borders of supplies. It extends into the hearts of volunteers, clergy, donors, and faithful who give not just goods, but themselves. This is a ministry of presence, not performance; of love, not logistics.

It is not simply about delivering a chocolate bar - it is about reminding a forgotten grandmother that her life still matters. It is not just about a warm drink - it is about warming the soul.

And so we ask you - dear brothers and sisters in Christ - become part of this sacred mission. Let your heart be moved. Let your hands offer help. Let your prayers surround the elderly who now find themselves strangers in a land they once built with their own hands.

“This ministry is not optional,” Archbishop Daniel reminds us. “It is the very heart of who we are. If we do not bring Christ to the lonely, we have not brought Him at all.”

To continue this vital outreach to the displaced elderly of Ukraine, we ask you to support the UOC of the USA’s charitable ministry with your prayers, your donations, and your voice. Visit www.uocofusa.org to learn how you can help.

Let us be the Church that does not forget its elders. Let us be the Church that remembers love, even in the ruins. Let us bring dignity, joy, and the presence of Christ to those who wait in silence for someone to simply say, “You matter. We are with you. God is with you.”

Because indeed - God is with us. And where there is love, there He is.