The School Year During War: Uphill Struggle for the Right to Education, UGCC Head at 185th Week of the War
Since the outbreak of the full-scale war, 406 educational institutions have been destroyed and another 2,600 damaged. Yet despite everything, children and young people in Ukraine will continue their studies. This was emphasized by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, in his traditional video address marking the 185th week of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Primate noted that this week was marked by several striking events, in particular the Prayer Breakfast at the Mystetskyi Arsenal, hosted at the invitation of the President of Ukraine.
More than 2,000 people attended from across the world: representatives of various churches, religious communities, and people of goodwill who wished to show their support for Ukraine through their presence.
“This breakfast,” said the Head of the Church, “will perhaps be remembered for its fervent prayers for an end to the war. Religious leaders—Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike—asked: God, why? Why this war? Are the people of Ukraine more sinful than all others? The answer was: No. Yet it seems that through this pain, the Lord wants to open the heart of Ukraine to the world—a heart that, even amid the horrors of war, sees God present among us.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked everyone who accepted the invitation and attended, as well as those who pray daily for Ukraine and its people in their countries, churches, synagogues, and mosques.
Another tragedy struck Ukraine this week. On the night of August 28, Kyiv was subjected to a massive attack. “We witness dozens of opportunities for diplomacy being thwarted. As the President of Ukraine noted, all the red lines, all the deadlines have been violated and disregarded in attempts at negotiations and in the search for steps to end this war,” the Primate said.
“We ask that the pain of Ukraine, the pain of its children, the voice of innocent blood crying out from Kyiv to the heavens, be heard by the international community. We call for a strong condemnation of these war crimes,” he appealed.
This Sunday was also marked in Ukraine as a special day of prayer for schoolchildren, when in all churches children and young people were blessed for the new academic year.
“The school year in wartime is a grueling struggle for the right of children and young people to education. Organizing the educational process under such conditions is a true act of heroism. We want to thank everyone who fights every day for the right of our children and young people to learn,” the spiritual leader concluded.
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