COVENTRY Cathedral will be standing in solidarity with the city’s Ukrainian community on Friday, February 24 to mark the first anniversary of the invasion of their homeland.
People will be able to join a candlelit vigil at the Cathedral Ruins at 6.30pm, with a procession taking place from the Lower Precinct 30 minutes before.
The service at the Ruins will be led by the Very Rev David Senyk and Fr Taras Dovbeniuk from the Ukrainian Church and by Coventry Cathedral.
There will be several poignant events throughout the day, including a Divine Liturgy and Memorial Mass at the Ukrainian Catholic Church from 10am.
An hour later, Coventry will fall silent in a one-minute moment of reflection to mark the first anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And there will be refreshments available at the Coventry Ukrainian community centre at 8pm.
Dr Mario Kosmirak, Chair, Coventry Branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) said: “We honour the lives of all those brave men & women who have given their lives defending their country in the name of freedom & independence.
“We equally remember the lives of the many innocent civilians – children, women and men, who are victims of a totally needless war.
“We pray and hope for a quick end to this unnecessary war, and for a return to peace and the ability of people to live normal lives, in peace, safety and freedom.”
John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry added: “We share the regret that this anniversary is happening at all, and we are grateful to join our prayers with those across the world for an end to this terrible war, and to the suffering of all those whose lives have been torn apart in the violence of this war.
“It is our prayer from Coventry that justice, peace and hope will prevail, and that with God’s help and in God’s name it will be possible to rebuild broken lives, cities and communities.”
