Byzantine Catholic Parish in Indianapolis prays for Ukraine

Father Bryan Eyman, pastor of St. Athanasius the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Indianapolis, an Eastern Catholic faith community that is part of the full communion of the Catholic Church, leads worshipers in a prayer for safety, peace and justice in Ukraine on Feb. 27. (Screen shot courtesy of St. Athanasius the Great Catholic Church video on Facebook)

By Natalie Hoefer

Father Bryan Eyman is not from Ukraine. Yet the Divine Liturgy and Prayer for the Deliverance of Ukraine he celebrated on Feb. 27 held deep meaning for him.

“I traveled to Ukraine a number of times, beginning in the 1980s when it was a part of the Soviet Union, and I have many friends there,” said the pastor of St. Athanasius the Great Byzantine Catholic Church in Indianapolis an Eastern Catholic faith community that is part of the full communion of the Catholic Church.

St. Athanasius the Great is a parish of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio.

During the Litany of Supplication, a part of the Divine Liturgy similar to the prayers of the faithful, petitions were offered “for peace and justice in Ukraine,” said Father Eyman.

“At the end of the Divine Liturgy, we had a special prayer that comes from the Book of Needs, which contains instructions for sacraments and various prayer services, including prayers for when a country is invaded by an outside power. We prayed especially for peace in Ukraine and that God be the one to bring justice about.”

(Related resource: Organizations accepting donations to help victims, refugees of war in Ukraine)

Father Eyman noted that there are members of St. Athanasius who are Ukrainian immigrants or descendants of Ukrainian immigrants.

He is concerned for his own friends in the country, which was invaded by Russia on Feb. 24.

“My friends in Lviv said they’ve had numerous air raid sirens go off, and rockets hit targets near the city,” he said. “So far, Lviv, which is near the Polish border, has not been hit. It’s the center of Byzantine Catholic Church in Ukraine—the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine.”

Father Eyman said he and the members of his parish are deciding where to send aid to help the people affected by the war. One organization they’re considering is the Knights of Columbus in Ukraine.

“I’m friends with Father Vlodomyr Malchyn, the state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Ukraine,” he said. “I know firsthand the very good work the Knights of Columbus do on the ground,” he said. “I’m sure they will appreciate any aid we can give and will immediately use the money to help in any way they can.”

As the members of St. Athanasius continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, Father Eyman encourages all Catholics to do the same.

“I would like to ask that all the faithful Catholics in the archdiocese to continue to pray that Ukraine is able to push back this invasion, and for the safety and protection of all the people there, especially Patriarch Sviatoslav [Shevchuk of Kyiv and All Ukraine], the hierarchs, priests, bishops and many monastic people, nuns and monks that are staying in Ukraine. I know our patriarch is staying in Kyiv. I know various bishops have asked their priests to stay and do whatever they can.”

According to an Aug. 7, 2009, article by Radio Free Europe, the Byzantine Catholic Church suffered heavy oppression under Soviet rule.

Father Eyman is well-aware of that past, noting, “I would not be surprised if they don’t do that again if the Russians take over.” †