Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
Comment and Call to Prayer by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom.
28 February 2022
Just over a week ago it would
have been inconceivable for most of us to imagine that there would be a war in
Europe, and yet today we see the pain and destruction of war unfolding before our
eyes in the streets, villages, and cities of Ukraine. We are seeing the
now-too-familiar images of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children
being internally and externally displaced; once-settled people being faced with
uncertainty, and families being separated by war and conflict.
With the presence of twenty-four-hour reporting, we can become too easily distracted by the analysis of maps,
charts and statistics, and forget the very real personal and human cost that is
being met by very real people in-country, and by their families and friends
around the world.
In this holy season of Lent across our Churches and Traditions,
let us raise our hearts in prayer for an end to this war and conflict with the
least possible loss of life, and for a restoration of peace and healing.
We pray protection upon the people and the armed forces of
Ukraine and Russia. We pray wisdom upon leaders and policy makers, that regardless
of geopolitical considerations, the preservation of sacred life always stands
paramount. We pray peace for a world that is still recovering from a global
pandemic that has affected so many, and has had an immense toll on us all.
May the Prince of Peace, our sovereign God, answer the prayers
of millions around the world for an end to this war and further loss of life.
*Ends*