Pray for Ukraine - Pray for Peace

 

                                        Archangel Michael is considered the patron saint

                                          and spiritual guardian of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

                                                              May peace prevail.

    This morning when I woke up to the news of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, I cried tears of anguish, thinking that all hopes and prayers for peace had come to naught. After wallowing in despair for awhile, I was reminded by my online friends that now is not the time to give up hope. 

    War gives us the opportunity to pray harder than ever. It's heartening to see posts popping up from all over the world, demonstrating the solidarity of the world's people of goodwill, all praying for peace. 

    Yes, most of us were praying for peace before today. We were praying that Putin would not attack, and yet he did. Some will now say that prayer is useless. Others realize that prayer is often not answered the way we want it to be, because we cannot see the whole picture. 

    The reasons for war and many and complicated, but the end result is always the same. As someone wise once said: “War does not determine who is right — only who is left.”

    More people than ever before now recognize the futility and evil of war. I am encouraged by the many prayers for peace being lifted up all over the world. Being faced with the evil of war, as we are today, even more people are raising their voices and spirits in prayer, bringing us ever closer to the Era of Peace for which most of us long. 

    Here is one of the prayers I found today, posted by Unity: 

    In this moment of emergency for Ukraine and Russia, we call ourselves to God-consciousness. We speak the word for harmony. We speak the word for order. We recognize no person, situation, or force greater than the power of God, the source of strength, wisdom, and courage.

    And here is a prayer from Marianne Williamson: 

Dear God,
Please send miracles
to the people of Ukraine.
Send angels to minister unto them.
Bring calm and peace to their frightened hearts.
Awaken in Vladimir Putin
the truth of who we are.
Soften his heart and remind him of his soul.
Please God, may there be peace.
Amen

    There are many ways to pray for peace. Choose your way. Let us pray without ceasing until peace prevails. 

myr (Ukrainian)

mir (Russian)

pax (Latin)

This icon for peace was created by a Russian designer, Natasha Alimova.