Two local churches join for Ecumenical Prayer Service for Ukraine

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Rev. Valerie Hayes, Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church at 132 North Royal Avenue in Front Royal, felt called to pray. She immediately reached out to Rev. Robert Hitchens, pastor of Saints Joachim and Anna Ukrainian Catholic Church at 1396 Linden Street. “We discovered we had commonalities in our liturgies,” she said, so soon they were making plans for an ecumenical prayer service.

“People were thrilled to hear that we were doing it,” she recalls, noting that the Ministerial Association of Front Royal is still considering holding an outdoor vigil prayer service for Ukraine when the weather permits.

Rev. Valerie Harper and Rev. Robert Hitchens led the service at Calvary Episcopal on April 3. Photo by Connie Marshner.

That service took place on Sunday, April 3, with Rev. Valerie and Rev. Robert leading different sections of it. The Evensong Prayers from the Book of Common Prayer were Rev. Valerie’s contribution, and Father Robert and two cantors from Saints Joachim and Anna joined in praying the Panakyhdia, the Ukrainian memorial service for the dead. The evening prayer “O Joyful Light” which both churches have in common, was also sung. That vespers prayer is believed to go back as far as the second century A. D.

“As people of faith,” Valerie says, “our hearts just break watching. What we’re called to do is to pray because we believe in the power of prayer lifted to God.”

Valerie has a special awareness of the problem: her husband, Jim Wolfe, who now teaches in the Business School at George Mason University, worked in Estonia after the Iron Curtain came down, helping businesses transition to the private sector. It was the most rewarding work of his life, she says, and now he sees it at risk of disappearing.

The trouble in eastern Europe hits close to home for another member of the Calvary congregation: Dana Adamson’s son is in Moscow. His Ukrainian wife had a baby just before covid hit, and her American visa expired. The American Embassy was not open during covid, and has not been open — so they cannot get home. “Thank God, I can still talk to them,” Dana told the Examiner, “and I’ve been able to see the baby, so I know they’re all right.”

On a more practical note, Calvary Church is supporting Episcopal Relief and Development and their Humanitarian Response to the Crisis in Ukraine, and also encourages contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and the Bishop’s Appeal for Ukraine of the Episcopal Diocese of Europe.

Father Robert suggests contributions to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of his diocese, which includes all the east coast south of Philadelphia: a check can be written to the “Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia” and sent to the office at 810 North Franklin Street, Philadelphia PA 19123. Please write on the check “Humanitarian Aid Fund for Ukraine”, or visit www.ukarcheparchy.us, click on “Donate through Paypal” and then select “War Victims and Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine.”

At the end of Sunday’s service, everyone was invited to tie blue, white, and yellow ribbons on the fence around the church, as visible manifestations of prayers. In the coming days, a plastic box of ribbons will be attached to the fence, and all are invited to show their prayers for Ukraine by tying ribbons. Look for them when you drive down Royal Avenue!