Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Great Britain has called the men and women fighting in Ukraine’s war with Putin’s Russia ‘real-life heroes’ who are defending democracy, rule of law, and the rights of freedoms established and upheld since the founding of the United Nations.
“They are in our prayers and I know that the majority of them would not be seen as heroes, but would rather return to the life that they had enjoyed a month ago,” he said. Like him, many of them would have been stunned by the events over these few weeks, but he reassured them that the Church was doing everything they could to help them.
“I keep in regular contact with Patriarch Svyatoslav Shevchuk,” said the Canadian-born bishop. “One of the clear messages he has given is that the bishops remain at their cathedrals, the priests continue to provide pastoral care. The Church gives hope, gives comfort and buries those who have become victims in this absolutely senseless war.”
Pope Francis’s reaction was to open channels to Patriarch Shevchuk. Bishop Kenneth said: “He had been a great supporter of Ukraine when Crimea was annexed being one of the first world leaders to call it a war, and to raise funds for Donbas residents to get them through the first winter. When the full invasion happened, the Pope made a very difficult journey to the Russian Embassy to appeal for peace.”
Here in the UK, Bishop Kenneth said they were working with faith-based communities and non-governmental organisations on a strategic plan on how to receive and welcome displaced people that will be arriving here, trying to ensure they have safe homes.
Expressing the sharp realities of events, Bishop Kenneth acknowledged that the world order had changed. He said: “The number of displaced people in three and a half weeks both internally in Ukraine and now reaching more than 4 million outside of Ukraine is unprecedented. The humanitarian crisis is nothing that we have experienced before in such a short time.”
As head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Great Britain, Bishop Kenneth said: “We are seeking to do everything we can to prepare for these displaced people, who will be generally mothers with small children, having to leave their husbands behind to defend Ukraine.”
I asked him how these new arrivals would fit in considering that the Ukrainian community in Britain is made up of predominantly Catholics and Ukrainian speakers. He acknowledged it was a good question but was not troubled by it.
“Our response as people of Great Britain whether they are Christian or non-Catholic, people of faith or not, this is human suffering, and that knows no ethnic, linguistic and religious boundaries,” he said.
They had battled through Covid and this was another challenge. “Our clergy showed incredible dedication through ways we could never have imagined,” he added.
Bishop Kenneth, who has a team of 15 priests offering pastoral care, said he had been very encouraged by the support of the wider community in the UK, people of different faiths and nationalities. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had visited the Cathedral in London’s Mayfair district, and met parishioners and community leaders.
Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski celebrating Holy Mass (Photo Credit: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, United Kingdom)
As patron of five humanitarian aid organisations, the Prince had pledged their support for Ukraine. What touched Bishop Kenneth most was that the Prince listened to “our people’s concerns” and his parting shot was ‘Slava Ukrayini’.
Bishop Kenneth expressed warm approval for the rallies organised by London Euromaidan for being peaceful, and especially the march organised last Saturday by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, heeding President Zelensky’s call to Stand Up For Ukraine. “I participated and that was a very strong signal,” he said.
Bishop Kenneth praised how the war in Ukraine had brought people together. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church have come together in solidarity in times of prayer and in the preparation of receiving displaced people from Ukraine.
“We have been working on a strategic plan on how to receive and welcome displaced people, trying to ensure they have safe homes. Whether they are Christian or non-Catholic, people of faith or not, this is human suffering, and that knows no ethnic, linguistic and religious boundaries“
“The cooperation we have received from the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Organisation of Ukrainian Women, the scout movement Plast, Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) and the Ukrainian Medical Association, all of these organisations that operate with volunteers have been amazing,” he said. “I am a recent arrival myself, he added, “enthroned on 21 March, 2020.”
I asked Bishop Kenneth if he could remember where he was when Russia launched its full-scale invasion: “I was in Leeds into my second day of our annual clergy retreat and I woke up early that morning and unfortunately instead of saying my prayers first, I grabbed my mobile to look at the time to see if I had overslept.
“As soon as I touched it, it was ablaze with information and messages from friends that we had been invaded. It was 4am and my heart just broke. I thought it was a bad dream, that this could not be happening. I then took the earliest train I could get to London and attended the first rally at 10 Downing Street.”
Bishop Kenneth admitted that a large portion of his time had been spent in isolation, due to COVID restrictions. “It is only in the last six to eight months that I have had the opportunity to visit and work with these incredible organisations that we have here in Great Britain,” he said.
I asked if there had been a moment in time where he could relax and take his mind off the conflict. There was a piano in the room and I suggested that perhaps he played. A smile came over his face, the first in what was a sombre interview. He remarked that he did not play the piano. Bishop Hlib, his predecessor was the piano player.
I’d heard that the day before a Russian general had been killed, which in these times of high emotions, particularly considering how much death and destruction had been reaped on our people, was surely a moment of celebration.
He paused to think about what I had asked, and then responded: “I don’t think we can rejoice in the death and suffering of anyone, even our enemies. There can’t be any joy at the death of anybody because of the aims and goals of Kremlin’s leadership. That’s not who we are today.”
The Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Duke Street, London. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid a visit, as have Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in support of Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Tony Leliw)
Tony Leliw is a London-based freelance journalist who has had articles published in The Catholic Times, Universe, Ukrainian Weekly, BBC Ukrainian Service and Brama Gateway Ukraine. He has also worked for the Daily Star, Newsquest, Recorder Newspapers, and Trinity Mirror Publications.
