On February 9, the assistant bishop of the UGCC Archdiocese of Ternopil and Zboriv, Theodor Martynyuk, spoke at the Continental Assembly of the Synod on synodality in Prague. The hierarch tried to convey the voice of Ukrainians about the war, which has been going on since 2014.
This is reported by the UGCC Information Department.
"In Ukraine, we are experiencing the brutality of war. This is a terrible invasion, a real genocide," the Bishop said.
On February 10, approximately 200 delegates from European episcopal conferences discussed the approval of the final document of the Continental stage of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church. This is a fundamental text that should contain the topics and issues that were at the center of the debate on these busy days.
Among the speeches at the plenary session, a raised voice from Ukraine was heard: "hundreds of thousands were killed, including 460 children," the UGCC Bishop said.
"About 12 million refugees, domestic and those who went abroad and whom you generously received. An unbearable tragedy in the center of the European continent. The Russians destroyed 1,100 hospitals. Our parishes are occupied, two priests are imprisoned, some are in filtration camps in Russia, and some priests, nuns and nuns were wounded," said Bishop Theodor Martynyuk, a representative of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The speaker also noted that since the beginning of the Assembly, everyone has agreed that truth and sincerity should be at the center of reflection.
"Therefore, we ask that the final document contain clear statements about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We sincerely ask that it contain a statement about the need for just peace in Europe. We ask that the gratitude of the Ukrainian people be expressed to all the peoples of Europe who stand in solidarity with Ukraine in its sufferings," said the assistant bishop of the UGCC Archdiocese of Ternopil and Zboriv.
As reported, on the evening of February 5, 2023, the European Continental Assembly was opened as part of the Synodal process 2021-2024, dedicated to the theme "for the sake of the Synodal church: communion, participation and mission", culminating in the sessions of the XVI Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will be held in the Vatican.
Ukraine is represented in Prague by three delegations from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese.