Ukrainian bishop tells how his people resist war: Our strength is the Eucharist

The secret of the strength and resistance of the Ukrainian people in the midst of the war with Russia comes “from unity with God” and from the Eucharist. This was stated by Mons. Hryhoriy Komar, Auxiliary Bishop of Sambir, in Ukraine, before the thousands of attendees at the International Eucharistic Congress in Quito.

“We have parishes where they have not stopped praying in the temple for almost three years. People have their turn to pray day and night. Our strength is the Eucharist. The Eucharist is an invitation to communicate and commune with others. That is, being with the people in the most difficult moments and giving one’s life for the people,” he said this Monday when referring to the war that began on February 24, 2022 with the Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic leader said during the Congress that “the Eucharist is an invitation to participate in the suffering and resurrection of Christ… It is an encounter with the risen Christ, conqueror of death, with Him who gives life. Only He can heal broken families, broken lives, and change death for life,” he assured.

At the beginning of his presentation, Bishop Komar thanked the organizers of the Quito 2024 International Eucharistic Congress for the opportunity to “bear witness to the pain and tragedy.” “The lives of our people are divided into two parts: before and after that date (February 24, 2022). And now we know very well that our life will never be the same as before.”

According to data According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 10 million Ukrainians have left their homes since the invasion began. Of the total, more than 6.4 million are refugees abroad.

Bishop Komar spoke of the magnitude of the suffering his people are experiencing. “It is difficult to find the words to describe all the horrors of the war in Ukraine. For many people in the world, war is something abstract, but for us it is a terrible reality that we live every day, experiencing the danger of losing our own life or the lives of our family members,” he said with pain.

The prelate also stressed the Church’s mission to proclaim the truth and rejected any type of malicious or manipulated narrative regarding the origin of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“Some tell us that Ukraine provoked Russia to start this war. That’s like saying something similar to a raped woman. It is unfair to call the genocide that Russia is carrying out in Ukraine the word crisis. It’s a lie. “It is a false testimony,” she emphasized.

“Our priests are heroes”

Faced with this reality, the Church has had to reinvent itself to offer spiritual and material support in the midst of chaos. “Our churches are not only a place of prayer, but the place where one can find advice or take shelter during bombings,” stressed Bishop Komar.

Likewise, he recognized the heroic work of the priests in his country: “I admire the fervor and sacrifice of our priests. They are heroes because with their prayers and daily feats they support their people.”

A global call to prayer “to overcome evil”

Despite immense suffering, the Ukrainian bishop maintained firm hope in the prayers of Catholics around the world. “To defeat evil, we need a prayer for the conversion of all of us. “In Ukraine, in Europe, in Ecuador, in the world.” Likewise, he called on the international community not to forget the pain of his people: “The war in Ukraine is not only Ukraine’s problem”.

Bishop Komar concluded his speech by asking the world to pray for Ukraine and continue searching for the truth. “May the world be stronger” thanks to solidarity with his country, and finally he implored: “Lord, King of Peace and the Universe, keep our people and Ukraine.”