ST. PAUL – With the news of a Russian military invasion of Ukraine in the early morning of Feb. 24, the All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church in St. Paul will hold a prayer service this evening beginning at 7 p.m.
“I invite all who are able to join us in prayer this evening at All Saints in St. Paul... to light a candle for all of those suffering in Ukraine today,” wrote Father Peter Haugen to members of the All Saints parish and members of the wider community.
The invasion and the Russian military engagement that began in the early morning has already claimed the life of 57 Ukrainians and injured more than 160 people, according to Ukraine’s Health Minister Viktor Lyashko.
The Church will be open for a period of time before and after the service for anyone wishing to come, pray, and light candles, continued Haugen’s statement.
The parish’s bishop, His Grace Ilarion, is currently travelling home from Ukraine.
Bishop Ilarion, presides over Edmonton and the Western Eparchy and is the Locum Tenans of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
In the bishop's absence, no official statements will be made on behalf of the church regarding the current situation unfolding in the Ukraine.
“I am just a simple priest, trying to do what I can to offer comfort to the Ukrainians living in and around St. Paul at this difficult and frightening time,” Haugen told Lakeland Today by email on Thursday.
At this time, the church will not be taking in donations towards humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine. However, those that wish to donate to relief efforts are being directed to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s online platform.
