A pastoral letter, published on 24 February 2022 by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York has been warmly commended by the Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner.
In it, the Archbishops condemn the "evil" attack by Russia on Ukraine and invite all Christians to join them in prayer.
Read their pastoral letter in full here.
The Archbishops say: "As Christians, our response to a crisis must always be rooted in prayer. And so we invite you to join with us in praying most earnestly for an outpouring of the Spirit of God, that the world may once again choose peace, strengthening those international bodies that enable us to work and live together as one humanity inhabiting one world. We pray for those in Ukraine who suffer grievously, for all who take decisions around the world, and for the people and leaders of Russia too."
Specifically, the Archbishops have asked people to join them to do three things:
- Make this Sunday, 27 February, a day of prayer for peace; (download the liturgical resources here)
- On Tuesday 1 March at 6pm (GMT) to pray with the Diocese in Europe for the chaplaincy in Kyiv and the churches that serve Ukraine; and
- To participate with the wider church in Pope Francis’s call to make Ash Wednesday, 2 March, a day of prayer and fasting for peace.
Bishop Mark welcomed the Arhcbishops' letter and is urging all in the Diocese of Chester to join with the Archbishops in praying for the evolving situation in Ukraine. He has written to all clergy to share the Archbishops' invitation and has also asked that churches ring their bells on Tuesday 1 March at 6 pm "as an audible expression of our standing with sisters and brothers in prayer, fellowship, witness, and compassion."
Bishop Mark also shared the Archbishops' letter and the liturgical resources on Twitter, saying: "Let’s cry out faithfully to God for all caught up in this conflict."
Joining with the Archbishops in #PrayerforPeace #Ukraine @ChesterDiocese - let’s cry out faithfully to God for all caught up in this conflict https://t.co/ZB5h1xex6T pic.twitter.com/N7yf1z56Xz
— Mark Tanner (@Northern_Bishop) February 24, 2022
