Bishop Meniok: ‘We stay with our people, even as bombs fall.’
Update from the Archiepiscopal Exarch of Donets’k-Kharkiv
The Redemptorists are in continual prayer with our fellow Redemptorists in Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with Redemptorist Bishop Stepan Meniok, C.Ss.R., Archiepiscopal Exarch of Donets’k-Kharkiv, and the people of the Exarchate of Donets’k as we pray for peace and an end to violence. We have received the following update from the Archiepiscopal Exarch of Donets’k-Kharkiv:
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Exarchate of Donetsk found in eastern region continues to be among the most difficult on the frontlines in Ukraine, the situation is getting worse every day during this winter, Exarchate of Donets’k currently finds itself at the epicenter of the war. Every day there are air raid sirens and attacks completely destroying the infrastructure leading to the total black out in all these regions. So many ruins, many women raped, so many tears, so much blood lost in our country. In the first days of the year 2023, twelve children were killed and so many have lost hands or feet in the bombing attacks after a Russian air missile hit a children center.
During the night of March 28 to 29, a building belonging to the Catholic parish was also destroyed in an attack, and two Redemptorist priests were arrested and tortured by Russian militant Father Ivan Levitskyi C.SS.R and Father Bohdan Heleta C.SS.R, were imprisoned in a pre-trial detention center and Father Bohdan Heleta suffers from a chronic disease that requires taking special medications, regularly. The Donetsk exarchate condemns all methods of actions against the Church, which are a blatant violation of international law.
Our of Cathedral of the Virgin of Mercy opened its doors to refugees, we have 229 people in the basement of the cathedral and we offer them help, shelter, food, medication, basic hygiene, cosmetic products, protection and its mostly women, elderly and children, we teach children with autism at our Centre. At present, there are 53 priest sand 12 sisters from different communities involved in this work. Some of these sisters were forced to flee from other regions of the country and have taken refuge at our cathedral. Nevertheless, many people in Donetsk want to stay, and that is our big concern. The priests and sisters go from village to village, bringing the people relief, helping the children suffering from trauma as a result of the recent events and they are very committed to their work, although it is very dangerous.
The situation is getting worse every day in these difficult times of winter with no electricity and gas being very expensive. Our financial support has deteriorated, we are hereby seeking for a financial aid package 0f ‘75,000 Euros to offset the energy crisis in the purchase of wood stoves and generators, food, water, medical supplies, blankets since its winter, mattress, diapers, wheel chairs, basic hygiene and cosmetic products. The immediate emergency financial grant will strengthen our relief work in the region and our commitment to stay on the ground and keep serving the flock in the face of military and economic war. This will help us meet our budget and targets.
I wish for this war to come to an end. But while evil has shown itself to be so strong, this has also exposed a lot of good. In a way, the evil we are experiencing also squeezes the good juice of the grape, and that good juice is our compassion, mutual support, and love. It shows our true faces.