(Photo: Orthodox Church of Ukraine)
In a powerful statement, Nordic church leaders have demanded the swift repatriation of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly taken to Russia. These leaders view the transfers as a “deep wound inflicted upon the image of God”.
Their call for action comes on the heels of a recent visit to Ukraine by a delegation of Nordic bishops, held from September 29 to October 3. This visit was a component of the Conference of European Churches’ (CEC) Pathways to Peace initiative, which aims to foster justice, harmony, reconciliation, and peace following Russia’s 2022 aggression.
The bishops’ statement emphatically declared: “Christian faith and human rights agree in acknowledging each person’s infinite and inherent dignity. The Russian Federation must immediately cease all strikes and stop forced transfers of Ukrainian children and collaborate with the Red Cross in facilitating reunification with families and return to territories of origin.”
Included in the delegation was Dr. Jonas Adelin Jørgensen from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, who is also part of the CEC’s Pathways to Peace Steering Group. Reflecting on the visit, Dr. Jørgensen expressed the profound impact of reconnecting with Ukrainian counterparts: “Meeting Ukrainian colleagues — pastors, relief workers, and community mobilizers — and simply seeing them again in real life was a joy and deeply meaningful,” he stated.
“When you eat together, travel together and worship together, you are co-journeying for a short time. For a short moment, we are able to walk beside Ukrainian Christians in a time of war and crises.”
The bishops also engaged in discussions with Ukrainian officials, including Parliament Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk, covering topics such as de-mining efforts and new laws affecting religious groups associated with the Russian Orthodox Church.
Dr. Jørgensen mentioned their discussions on “how to balance questions concerning security with freedom of religion or belief”.
During the visit, Archbishop Elia of the Orthodox Church of Finland, alongside Metropolitan Epiphany of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, led a service at St Michael’s Church in Kyiv. Archbishop Elia emphasized that Ukraine’s fight extends beyond political autonomy to encompass the right to live as God’s children in their own country.
Citing the Apostle Paul, he reminded attendees: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15).
Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach, the CEC’s General Secretary, characterized the visit as a beacon of hope amidst ongoing conflict. He said: “Confronted with ongoing violence and seemingly never-ending violations of human rights and human dignity in Ukraine, we find hope in the strong connections nurtured by this delegation of Nordic bishops.
“Let us continue to ensure that the voices of churches are heard, their witness is realized, and that Pathways to Peace continue to be forged.”
Dr. Jørgensen, reflecting on the delegation’s journey, described the war as “a humanitarian, financial, and spiritual catastrophe,” yet noted that it has led to greater solidarity among Ukrainian churches. He recounted meeting individuals who had suffered personal losses in the conflict against Russia, remarking: “Everyone is traumatized by the losses. Everyone wants the war to stop and the violence to end.”
However, he stressed that achieving true and lasting peace requires more than simply silencing the guns. “Therefore, Ukrainians are still fighting – for the success of their impossible cause,” he concluded.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
