Priests of seven churches shoot an ecumenical video for the sake of Ukraine’s unity
In Dnipro city, representatives of seven Christian denominations, united in the Council of Christian Churches of Dnipropetrovsk Region, presented a video entitled “Our Father” as part of a joint project,” RISU correspondent Sofia Bohutska reports.
Priests and ministers of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charismatic Church “Good News,” the Association of Churches of Evangelical Christians, Association of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, the Roman Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cited in turn the lines of one of the most famous prayers of the world. The initiator of this action was the head of Dnipropetrovsk Diocese of the UOC KP, chairperson of Chaplaincy Department Fr Dmytro Povorotnyy. Everybodу except the UOC (MP) responded to the invitation.
“Our Father” video was a kind of continuation of the joint prayer, which the priests held on the Forgiveness Sunday in the Heaven’s Hundred Alley.
“It is the only prayer used by every Christian both in private practice and church practice," Fr. Dmytro Povorotnyy said. According to the priest, he was prompted to do that by the guys fighting in eastern Ukraine. There are many Christians of various denominations, but they act together. Representatives of different faiths should also act this way in civilian life. “A few years ago we did not suppose this might happen. We ignored each other, we did not trust each other. Someone considered himself important, someone - wise, someone the most believing person. There was no trust. Now we as to establish these relationships,” Fr Dmytro Povorotnyy said.
“Our Father” Prayer is a response to the needs of society at all times," the rector of the church of the Holy Virgin of the UGCC Fr Vasyl Kolodiy continues. He said that God created people different and everyone should unite around love for him. "We unite around heavenly Father, everyone in his own faith, everyone in his church and everyone in his teaching, but acknowledge one God, who made heaven and earth. This message is sent to the community refers to we, together, are not merged, so that we, together, showed love for each other,” Fr Vasyl Kolodiy concludes.
“With this project, “Our Father" Prayer we would like to show a good example. As, according to the words of Jesus Christ, the faithful, the Church are the light to the world, the salt of the earth. We would like to send a message that now it is time to unite in Ukraine. Enough dividing Ukraine on grounds of language and religious affiliation. Ukraine Today, as never before, needs unity,” said Head of the Council of Christian Churches, Bishop Regional Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith Mykhailo Mokienko.
The video was directed by the resident of Dnipro city Mykhailo Moskalenko for free. He says he liked the idea of the clergymen. A little piece of shooting lasted for to two months - because of the clergymen’s availability. However, the man is happy with the first result. He even calls the work “social.” Now it is in the public domain. Mykhailo is ready to work with priests in future. In return they promise to prepare new religious unification projects in Dnipro city.
