Yesterday, February 7, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed former Governor of New York George Pataki to the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine for a prayer service calling for peace in Ukraine.
The Archbishop was joined by Metropolitan Antony of Hierapolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Honorable Consul General of Ukraine in New York Oleksii Holubov. A delegation of Ukrainian soldiers visiting the United States also attended.
The prayer service comes just ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. According to Archbishop Elpidophoros, gathering at the St. Nicholas Church and Shrine, the only house of worship destroyed in the 9/11 attacks and a “heartbreaking reminder of the horrific acts of terror inflicted upon innocent people,” was especially appropriate for the occasion.
“We are truly humbled to be joined by the delegation of Ukrainian soldiers who have not only experienced the injustice of this aggression firsthand but who continue to resist it,” His Eminence said in his remarks. Their courage has “inspired support from around the world,” including the Governor George Pataki Center, which has raised funds for humanitarian aid to displaced families in Ukraine “since the very beginning.”
Among the delegation were Junior Sergeant of the UA Armed Forces and Head of the ULAF (Ukrainian League of American Football) Yuri Hundych and Junior Sergeant Roman Bohuslavskyi, a former ULAF player himself. Roman’s brother, Danylo, also played for the ULAF and was killed in action. The delegation will be honored by the Governor George Pataki Center and the NFL at the upcoming Super Bowl LVII.
Following the Prayer Service, Archbishop Elpidophoros presented Jr. Sergeants Hundych and Bohuslavskyi with an icon of Saint Nicholas.
Archbishop Elpidophoros noted:
As we approach the dark anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we stand here at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, a heartbreaking reminder of the horrific acts of terror inflicted upon innocent people. This was the only sacred house of worship destroyed during the 9/11 attack, resulting in the tragic loss of countless lives.
So it’s appropriate that we were here today for a prayer service with His Eminence Metropolitan Antony of Hierapolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, former Governor of the State of New York George Pataki, and the Honorable Consul General of Ukraine in New York Oleksii Holubov.
We were humbled to be joined by a delegation of Ukrainian soldiers who have not only experienced this injustice firsthand, but who continue to resist it: Yuri Hundych, Junior Sergeant in the UA Armed Forces and Head of the ULAF, and Roman Bohuslavskyi, Junior Sergeant and former ULAF player.
Their courage has inspired support from around the world, including the Governor George Pataki Center, which has raised funds to support displaced families and refugees from Ukraine since the very beginning.
Together, as Orthodox Christians and as Americans, we pray for peace. But peace cannot be achieved as long as there is no justice. Our prayers are for peace with justice, so that this senseless onslaught in Ukraine stops.
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Photos: GOARCH / Dimitrios S. Panagos
