Letters from Br. Błażej: Night 253

November 4, 2022

We’re alive. During the night in almost all over Ukraine, at different times, there were air raid alerts. Alerts were in Lviv too. God, give us peace! Almost 4 times a day we have no electricity. As I’m writing this letter, I have no light. There will be difficulties with the Internet and sending the letter later. God, give us peace!

Best wishes to all Charles on the memorial of their patron saint!

The Word… As a child, I heard and sang without understanding, this traditional [Polish—SJP Communications] Lenten song, “He who recognizes the cross, will not fall.” Hence, I am not surprised by the following words of St. Paul from today’s readings: “For many are acting as enemies of the cross of Christ, of whom I have often spoken to you, and now I speak with weeping. (…) For our homeland is in heaven. From there, too, as Savior, we await the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humiliated body into one like His glorious one…”
Our cross, that of San Damiano, is that glorious cross where Jesus triumphs, with eyes wide open, i.e. it is true that death has been defeated and Christians do not die. Heroes do not die! Герої не вмирають!

We live in war, we do not live by war.

Kyiv/Bykivnia:
We pray for our ancestors who resisted the evil that was and still remains communism and who gave their lives. The cemetery in Bykivnia is a place where heaven and earth are united, different nations are united. I am moved by this monument of a humiliated man. “People dealt this fate to people…” (photo)

Kyiv:
Nazareth nuns who work with us in the parish, dedicated to working with young people. (photo)

Lviv:
Another invitation to a night of vigil. (photo)
Brother Zbyszek, among people praying for the dead in Lychakiv Cemetery, Cemetery of Eaglets. (photo)

Vinnytsia:
Brothers at the municipal cemetery. (photo)

By the way, I want to ask you for one “Hail Mary” for my deceased parents, Wojciech and Florentyna. (photo)

Kherson:
The Russian flag was removed from the regional parliament. So far, a symbolic victory. (photo)

Kyiv:
With Br. Andrew we went to one of Kiev’s cemeteries named Lisove. We prayed over the grave of Victor, our Kyiv Benefactor, who about 15 years ago, before his death, donated his apartment to us. The profits from the sale of the apartment were used for our church, which was under construction at the time. Some of the brothers know this story. Let us pray for our Benefactors. (photo)

We also visited graves of our heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine, defending our freedom and sovereignty. Some gave their lives even at the beginning of this war from 2014 to today. (photo)

The youngest is Vyacheslav Artamonov, age 19, who died on 16.04 2022 (photo). Other soldiers are 20, 22 years old. Among them, a soldier of Tatar nationality from Crimea. Write on the epitaph, “Crimea is Ukraine.” (photo)

On another grave an inscription in Ukrainian: “Remember me. I too lived, loved and smiled.” (photo) How important it is to remember! Here we should add: “Heroes do not die” (Герої не вмирають).

Kharkiv:
Symbolic photo from Kharkiv Cathedral. Crosses by names of Mariupol, Melitopol, Izium, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Berdyansk. (photo)

Kyiv:
Despite the rain and cold weather, work on the church square continues. We pray for our benefactors and workers. God, give them health. (photo)

May God grant us peace and keep us!