Forgiveness Sunday in Lviv, Ukraine
This is the first day of Lent for both Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Christians, because the Orthodox calendar varies from that of the Roman Catholic church and Western denominations which observe the liturgical year.
This means that last week was Shrove Tuesday for millions of Christians, a name which comes from the old word ‘shriving’, which means to listen to someone’s sins and forgive them. During Ash Wednesday services I would give participants the opportunity to write down something they needed to relinquish or let go of, a grudge or regret, as part of the service and I would burn them later.
For Orthodox Christians yesterday was Forgiveness Sunday, roughly the equivalent of Shrove Tuesday. What was this ritual like for Ukrainians who have seen their country invaded for no reason and have suffered terribly during the past two weeks.
Reports are that churches were unusually full in Ukraine yesterday, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in Lviv, near the border with Poland. According to a CBC report:
Bishop Stepan Sus made a passionate case during his sermon that the invading Russian troops who have systematically shelled and bombed Ukrainian cities over the past 11 days, killing hundreds of civilians, should, indeed, be forgiven — but, he said, only so that Ukrainian forces can have clearer minds and hearts when they fight them.
"What they [Russians] are doing is awful," said Sus, who presides over services at Saints Peter and Paul Garrison Church in Lviv's historic old town. "We have to forgive — not because we are weak, but because ... it is very important that we are not poisoned by this evil. Despite all the terrible things that have happened in the war, our soldiers are keeping their human face — they want to respect the prisoners and our enemies — and they are doing that to try to stop this war immediately."
I believe that forgiveness is at the heart of our Christian faith, and Jesus sought God's forgiveness for his persecutors as he was dying on the cross. Yet there is nothing glib or formulaic about forgiveness. Forgiveness has limits and is not a "get out of jail free" card for abuse or violence. It certainly can't be imposed or demanded but it can be upheld, even in the most dire of circumstances. Bishop Sus obviously knows this, and that retributory and escalating violence is not the solution for his country.
One woman who attended the service said that she cannot forgive the Russian aggressors yet she was there knowing it was Forgiveness Sunday.
Perhaps this is the reality for many of us. Often we go through the motions and the rituals in the hope that forgiveness may one day happen, by the grace of God.
Today I'm recalling the Lenten devotional booklet, For the Beauty of the Earth in my Groundling blog. groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2022/03/lent-b
Bishop Sus
I used to wonder how I could forgive someone who had wronged me when that person was not sorry - I now realize that is the time I must forgive. Perhaps this is what Ukrainians are experiencing now....
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy. Yes, the most meaningful forgiveness occurs when a bridge is built between the perpetrator and the one who was wronged. Unilateral forgiveness may not be as satsifying yet it can make a huge difference to our wellbeing.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is exactly what Christ did, on the cross....
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