Accompanying the silent prayer for the people of Ukraine, the church bells will ring across the country, and the Pummerin will ring out in Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The ORF will also interrupt its program for the non-denominational minute of silence.
In addition to the Christian churches – including the Orthodox – the Israeli religious community and the Islamic community and all other legally recognized religious communities are taking part in the initiative, Kathpress reported.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn spoke of a mask case in his current column in the free newspaper “Heute”. “Any appeasement turns out to be a lie. Russia has attacked Ukraine and is invading an independent country, disregarding its sovereignty. The mask of international law has been removed and brute force is showing its face.” His sympathy goes to the Ukrainian people, who have “experienced many dark hours” in their history. Cardinal Schönborn had already emphasized via Twitter on Thursday that the war in Ukraine affects “all of us”: “It is a human tragedy that we must not be indifferent to. Ukraine is so close to us, the people there need our unconditional solidarity and our prayer.”
“Peace is the greatest good”
For the chairman of the Catholic bishops’ conference, Archbishop Franz Lackner, the silent prayer should “strengthen the hope for a quick and just peace in the Ukraine”. “The ringing of the bells on Friday afternoon reminds us of the death of an innocent man: Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Let us pray for all those who have lost their lives in the horror of war and let us open our hearts to those who need our help now.” , the Archbishop of Salzburg told Kathpress on Thursday evening.
“Peace is the highest good. Everything must be done to restore peace in Europe and to preserve it,” explained Roland Weißmann, Director General of the ORF to Kathpress and said: “The ORF is happy to join the initiative of the various churches , religious and faith communities in Austria and, with the interruption of its program, participates in the ‘interdenominational minute of silence for peace’.”
“In silence we express our feelings of powerlessness in the face of the horrors of war in the middle of Europe,” said Bishop Michael Chalupka. “Silence is a language that everyone understands” and is an expression of solidarity with the people in the war zone who fear for their lives. “In silence we draw strength to act. Humanitarian aid for people in war zones and those fleeing is the need of the hour,” says Chalupka.
Interfaith Solidarity
“As Christians we are called to live together in peace and charity. That is why war is always a sin, especially when it is waged against a free, sovereign country,” stressed the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Arsenios (Kardamakis), who declared the ” attack by Russia on Ukraine”. At the same time, the archbishop called for prayers for the victims of the war: “May the Lord God help you, protect you from suffering and death and restore peace to Ukraine.”
The chief rabbi of the Israelite religious community, Jaron Engelmayer, also emphasized the general concern in view of what is happening between Russia and Ukraine: “We are praying for all residents of the affected region, for rapid stabilization and early peace. The one who brings peace in the heights , may peace be established on earth – shalom.”
“The pictures that are currently reaching us from Ukraine leave us speechless,” emphasized the President of the Islamic Faith Community, Ümit Vural. Until recently, war on European soil was unimaginable, a profound cut in the world order and misery for the victims of this conflict. “We stand united in prayer for peace and a safe world. May God protect the Ukrainian people and help them in these dark days,” said Vural.
Source: Nachrichten
