We are approaching one year since the onset of the Russian aggression against the sovereignty of the people of Ukraine.
As many of us know, our area is a regional center for Ukrainians, with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church USA based less than two miles from us in South Bound Brook.
Two prayer events of note:
1) From the Ukrainian Orthodox USA website:
«On the morning of February 24, 2022, as dawn broke over Ukraine, Russia declared war in the form of a “special military operation” against Ukraine.
It was at 4 am on that day that the war in Ukraine began with a strike of a rocket. With a 7-hour time difference – it was 9pm on February 23, 2022 on the East coast of the United States of America.
Millions of innocent children, men and women became refugees overnight in the neighboring Poland, Moldova, Germany and other countries, including the United States of America. Thousands of men and women lost their lives while protecting the peace and life and Ukraine. Thousands of civilians lost their homes and belongings…. Over a thousand children have been wounded and killed. Millions of people worldwide have felt the consequences of the war in Ukraine, due to food shortage, etc. That is the reality of a yearlong unprovoked war of Russian in Ukraine.
Please join us at the Spiritual Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook/Somerset, NJ for a commemorative Prayer Vigil on February 23, 2023 at 8pm in order to embrace the people and nation of Ukraine with reflections and prayers, as the world marks the first anniversary of this barbaric attack on civilization.
The Prayer Vigil will take place at the Ukrainian Cultural Center (135 Davidson Ave; Somerset, NJ 08873) at 8pm, marking the first moments of the strikes/attacks in Ukraine.
With prayers for the people of Ukraine,
+Daniel, Archbishop of the UOC of the USA
2) With final details pending, we will also have our church open on Friday, Feb. 24 for prayer at St. Joseph.