His Grace Bishop Antonie has called for solidarity with Ukrainian refugees and prayers for both sides involved in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He said the current wave of refugees is “an examination of our faith and love.”
“Most Reverend Deans, Most Reverend Parish Priests, Christian brothers and sisters, we have all witnessed for two days the tragedy of the neighboring Ukrainian people. The war put death between brothers of the same blood and the same faith,” Bishop Antonie said. “Because of this, many Ukrainians are taking refuge. Some come to the Republic of Moldova to save their lives. Their number is growing.”
“These people need our help. Just as we were united during the pandemic, this time I call on the deans, priests, and Christians of the Balti Diocese to be united, first and foremost, in prayer, invoking God’s mercy to bring peace among the peoples, and to send the holy light to the leaders of this world to seek peaceful solutions to the misunderstandings that have arisen.”
“We cannot be indifferent to the tragedy of people in distress, so we have started a fundraiser to help those facing the hardships of refuge. The coordination of this fundraising campaign, but also of other activities to help the refugees from Ukraine, will be done through the social sector of the Balti Diocese,” the bishop announced.
“Let us be filled by the tragedy of our Ukrainian comrades, forced by need to abandon their homes, and let us show compassion, solidarity and love. God bless all the peoples with peace,” His Grace Bishop Antonie noted.
The Diocese of Bălți is bordered to the north and east by the Ukrainian regions of Chernivtsi and Vinitsa – the first inhabited mostly by Romanians from northern Bukovina.
Photography courtesy of Doxologia / Oana Nechifor
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