In place of a meditation

 

Source: newliturgicalmovement.org

Not exactly a very "spiritual" meditation, but I received this from our parishioner Jeffrey Robinson. It speaks for itself in terms of the horrors that the people of Ukraine continue to endure at the hands of the authoritarian Russian regime. 

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I received this update from friends connected to Ukraine. It seems very dire for the people I know living in Zaporizhzhia. I am grateful for the continued prayers offered up in the Divine Liturgy

On February 4: “The security situation in Zaporizhzhia has deteriorated sharply over the past two months. Russian forces are exploiting the cold weather to deprive Ukrainians of heat, light, electricity, and water. 

“Russian terrorists have advanced closer to Zaporizhzhia, enabling them to fire drones and rocket artillery directly at the civilian population. … For the past couple of weeks, air raid sirens have sounded almost continuously – 23 to 24 hours each day – signaling the constant threat of shelling. Explosions echo across the city.”

The KYIV POST, a daily paper published in Ukraine, reported on February 3:

“With temperatures plunging and heating outages spreading …, Russia launched what Ukrainian officials describe as the largest strike on the energy grid so far this year.”

“The human toll is clear. Multi-story buildings are dark, heating is out.” … People try to stay alive in minus four degree temperatures. 

The city of Zaporizhzhia is about eight (8) miles from the front lines of the war, meaning that it could be invaded by enemy forces at any time.”