The Catholic and Anglican Archbishops of Armagh have said they will write jointly to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to reinforce their call for all Christians of Europe, including the Russian Orthodox leader, to unite in spiritual and practical efforts in support of an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking in Armagh on the eve of St Patrick’s Day, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell called for an end to the “relentless bombardment which has trapped countless civilians in a nightmare of destruction and displaced millions of others from their homes and families”.
They expressed their fear that the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine may yet accelerate before it dissipates.
“Although we are many miles away from the horrific bombardment and loss of life, the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people shockingly comes home to us this St Patrick’s Day,” they said.
Their call followed the annual St Patrick’s lecture organised by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. The lecture offers insights on how the witness of St Patrick speaks to the contemporary world. This year’s theme was: ‘St Patrick as a model for reconciliation and peace’.
Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Primate of All Ireland, recalled the church leaders’ joint statement on St Patrick’s Day last year where they acknowledged that in the past church leaders had failed to bring a message of peace to a divided society.
He told The Tablet that the letter to Patriarch Kirill was to try and “encourage the Russian Orthodox Church to acknowledge that it is time to call a halt.” He added, “It is never too late to do it.”
Archbishop Eamon Martin said that in their St Patrick’s lecture on Wednesday they had reflected on how Christian churches sometimes become partisan. “I think it would be a terrible tragedy and a deep scandal if Christianity worldwide was divided on this issue,” he said.
However, he also acknowledged, “We can't imagine the sort of internal pressures that Patriarch Kirill must be under.”
The leader of the Irish Church added that the call to the Patriarch aimed to persuade him that the Christian message transcends political or cultural issues.
It was, he said, “a cry from the Christian people of the world to Patriarch Kirill to use whatever influence he has”.
While the voice of the Churches was one voice among many, Archbishop Martin said, “we think it is a powerful voice for peace and reconciliation and harmony”.
He also acknowledged the many Russian people in Ireland and in their homeland bear no responsibility for this “heart-breaking situation” and share the desire for peace and an end to the terrible violence.
The two church leaders said it would be “unconscionable for us to celebrate the feast of St Patrick this year without offering the solidarity of our prayers, charity and welcome for the people of Ukraine”.
“We appeal through our prayers this Saint Patrick’s Day for an end to this pointless massacre and pulverising of the property, bodies and spirit of the Ukrainian people.”
In addition, in a joint message for St Patrick’s Day, the Catholic and Anglican archbishops of Armagh said the war in Ukraine is a lesson to Northern Ireland to “never take peace for granted” and “never give up on dialogue, the building of bridges, and mutual understanding across historical divides”.
Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin and Anglican Archbishop John McDowell, whose dioceses straddle both sides of the Irish border, made their comments after they led the annual St. Patrick's lecture organised by local borough councils.
Armagh is where St. Patrick built a church in the fifth century. Each year, the lecture offers insights on how the witness of St. Patrick speaks to the contemporary world. This year’s lecture was March 16, the eve of St Patrick’s Day, with the theme: “St Patrick as a model for reconciliation and peace.”
The two churchmen appealed for an end to the “pointless massacre and pulverising of the property, bodies and spirit of the Ukrainian people”.
(Some additional content from CNS.)
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