Lyudmilla, 43, kneels on the stone floor of the Jesuit Catholic Cathedral in Lviv, western Ukraine (built in 1610), and clasps her hands fervently in prayer. She looks at the crucified Jesus and hopes that her country can somehow survive Russia’s brutal war of aggression.
Later she says: “I prayed for everything, for myself, for the family, for peace. For people not dying anymore, both our people and those on the other side.”
Lviv in western Ukraine has become a bottleneck on the way to Poland. Hundreds of thousands of refugees, almost exclusively women and children, find shelter here and then continue on their way to safety.
An acolyte waves incense, many sing along to the church melodies of the choir, it is very crowded. The ceremony gives them strength in these dark times, when Vladimir Putin’s army is covering the east of the country with fire and death, and two million Ukrainians are on the run.
Soldier: “Go and kill her”
After the faithful have sung a hymn, soldier Olexandra (53) lights some candles and puts them in a bowl of sand.
Photo: To Biermann
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/olexandra-53-bittet-ihren-gott-fuer-einen-peace-in-der-ukraine-der-ihr-land-frei- stay-laesst-50481685253e42eb831c13611c1e5f81-79369446/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> Olexandra (53) prays to her god for a peace in Ukraine that will keep her country freePhoto: To Biermann
In front of the church she says: “Everything happened unexpectedly. We urgently need bulletproof vests and bandages. The latter is almost impossible to get, and we desperately need it. We thank the volunteers and God for providing us and the military units with food.”
Photo: To Biermann
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/olexandra-erzaehlt-vor-der-kathedrale-was-sie-bewegt-14fbef4a7ef4470283c749a2c47f7284-79369660/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> In front of the cathedral, Olexandra talks about what moves herPhoto: To Biermann
Tears come to her eyes as she speaks: “I also have a little grandson and I can’t see little children dying, being mutilated. I believe in God, I go to church. I know killing is forbidden. But I say go and kill them, don’t capture them. They didn’t ask our children, they wanted to live, nobody has the right to take other people’s lives.”
Olexandra hopes for a win. And believes it will be expensive. “We’ll definitely win, there’s no doubt about that, but the price we’re paying is too high. Negotiations will not work, there is no one to negotiate with.”
“Arm with Weapons of Light”
The preacher, Bishop Stepan Sus (41), says in his liturgy: “But despite this evil, despite the hatred, despite these wounds and everything that war brings, as mature people, as Christians, we must not give up, but must arm ourselves with weapons of light.”
Photo: To Biermann
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-uralte-zeremonie-machen-den-belubigen-kraft-a2c80c363aad4de68d4ec001b257757e-79368662/Bild/8.bild.jpg”/> The ancient ceremony gives strength to believersPhoto: To Biermann
Photo: To Biermann
Photo: To Biermann
Photo: To Biermann