— Again on Easter and in general on Christmas we pray for the end of war, for just peace, so that we may hope to begin a fresh life in Christ. due to the fact that even pastoral activity in these days is very limited – he stressed.
The Roman Catholic diocese, in which Bishop Sobiło full serves, is almost entirely a midwife in Ukraine's circuits, in which there are fighting against the occupying army of Russia. The city of Zaporozhye, where there is simply a clergyman, as well as Dniepr, Kharkiv and Suma, is under constant fire. Donetsk and Lugansk have been occupied since 2014.
"Another Easter Unsure whether to come back from Mass"
— That is why our prayer is for us to come to the church normally, calmly and go home to sit behind the Christmas table. We pray for peace in our hearts, in our families and for the occupier to leave us alone," he said.
Due to continued bombings, raids of Russian drones, and closer to the front – artillery fire, Ukrainian authorities again asked the Churches this year to avoid their gatherings, and preferably to stay at home and participate in online Masses.
“ It’s been over 3 years that we can’t be certain of anything. The military and the police appeal to avoid meetings, due to the fact that the occupier can hit even our churches during the service, during the Holy Mass," he stressed.
Hierarch noted that war paralyzes everything: the economical life of the country and the spiritual and household life of its inhabitants. “ Families endure due to the fact that they cannot meet. The husband is at war, the wife is gone, and erstwhile she stays with the children, she can't wait for the husband to come on leave, even for a fewer hours, to see each another on Christmas and make wishes for himself – he explained.
After the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, Bishop Jan Sobiło remained among the faithful, bringing spiritual aid and engaging in material aid organization. As he said, support is inactive needed.
— The top aid is prayer, and after prayer, food and medicine, due to the fact that people are frequently incapable to buy themselves medicines. We request food all the time due to the fact that what we get is what we share with soldiers, neighbors, people in need. These transports, which scope us, truly save us," he stressed.
The priest expressed his gratitude to Poles who, despite more than 3 years of full-scale war, inactive support Ukraine.
— We are very grateful to our fellow Americans that they remember us, due to the fact that even erstwhile it's very difficult, and you see that individual remembers you, that individual donated any food, aid for medicine, it shows that during the war we're not alone, and the planet remembers us. If people pray for us, aid us, we will someway be able to scope the day of liberation," said Bishop Sobiło in an interview with PAP.
