Exhortation of HG Bishop Ioan Casian to pray for the events in Ukraine
The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada took note with deep sadness about the recent armed conflict in Ukraine. The conflicts cause suffering, loss of life, a lot of insecurity and incalculable material damage. They do not reflect the true vocation of the nature of man - to be the image and likeness of God.
The words of the Savior Jesus Christ to the disciples after the resurrection are: “Peace be with you. (...) As the Father sent me, so I send you” (John 20, 19-21). Peace is essential for good coexistence between us humans. The Christian as a disciple of the Savior Jesus Christ must be a peacemaker according to His words in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5, 9).
Let us join together clergy and faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada to all those who are currently suffering because of the sad events in Ukraine.
Let us pray to God for an end to hostilities and for the return of peace.
Let us also pray that God give wisdom, a spirit of responsibility, peaceful understanding and openness to one another to the political leaders to settle and resolve the conflict situation as soon as possible.
I urge the clergy and faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada to offer petitions and prayers in the Divine Liturgy and in personal prayer for the cessation of hostilities, for the protection of the Ukrainian people and for a spirit of good understanding and prudence for the political leaders.
† Ioan Casian
Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada