{"id":10777,"date":"2015-05-29T10:02:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-29T10:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/as-conflict-rages-on-ukrainian-troops-make-a-pilgrimage-for-peace-67566\/"},"modified":"2015-05-29T10:02:00","modified_gmt":"2015-05-29T10:02:00","slug":"as-conflict-rages-on-ukrainian-troops-make-a-pilgrimage-for-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/05\/as-conflict-rages-on-ukrainian-troops-make-a-pilgrimage-for-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"As conflict rages on, Ukrainian troops make a pilgrimage for peace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Lourdes, France, May 29, 2015 \/ 04:02 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Members of the Ukrainian army recently traveled to Lourdes, France for an international military pilgrimage aimed at promoting peace \u2013 something the whole country is said to be praying for.<\/p>\n

\tTo come to the shrine with soldiers actively fighting in conflict zones \u201cis very important to us because like this we feel very supported by the whole world,\u201d Father Ivan Yavorskyy told CNA May 16.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe also want to show the world that we have a war in the Ukraine in this moment. We are here to pray for peace in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tA military chaplain for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, Fr. Yavorskyy accompanied 17 Ukrainian soldiers on the annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes, which was established in 1946 in order to pray for global peace, healing and reconciliation after World War II.<\/p>\n

\tThe pilgrimage, which each year gathers military personnel from 35 nations in Lourdes in May, took place May 12-18. Thousands of international soldiers were present representing the military branches of their respective countries.<\/p>\n

\tOriginally from Kiev, Fr. Yavorskyy was joined by 17 active members of the Ukrainian army, a Greek-Catholic bishop and one other military chaplain.<\/p>\n

\tMost of those who came have been involved in the military operations currently taking place in eastern Ukraine, he said, adding that \u201cmany of them were blessed\u201d by their time at renowned Marian shrine.<\/p>\n

\tConflict erupted in Ukraine last year in February when the country\u2019s former president was ousted following months of violent protest, and a new government appointed. In March, Ukraine\u2019s eastern peninsula of Crimea was annexed by Russia and pro-Russian separatist rebels have since taken control of eastern portions of Ukraine, around Donetsk and Luhansk.<\/p>\n

\tIt is estimated that nearly 6,000 people have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Rebels have been supported by both Russian arms and troops, according to both Ukraine and Western nations.<\/p>\n

\tThe ongoing crisis in Ukraine was among the topics covered by Pope Francis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in their Feb. 21 meeting at the Vatican.<\/p>\n

\tMerkel helped to negotiate the latest cease-fire agreement between Ukrainian government forces and Pro-Russian separatists, hoping to ease the conflict that many have said has resulted in a humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n

\tThe ceasefire officially began at midnight Feb. 15, and called for all sides to pull back heavy weapons. It was also expected that a de-militarized zone be created between the Ukrainian government and separatist forces, who will both pull back to new positions.<\/p>\n

\tAll prisoners were to be released, and foreign weapons and troops withdrawn. Constitutional reform was expected to enable decentralization in the eastern portions of Ukraine by 2016.<\/p>\n

\tHowever, despite the agreement of a ceasefire and the slight fall in violence since it was reached, shelling in the eastern region of the country has continued, and the number of casualties has continued to rise.<\/p>\n

\tAlthough many citizens from the towns and villages nearest the fighting have fled, Fr. Yavorskyy said the Church continues to support all those who are affected by the conflict.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Church is still in the zone of the conflict, and they support people there. They did not leave the territory but they are there to support people and to give help,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tIn his role as a military chaplain the most important thing he can do \u201cis to be near to the soldiers, to support them all the time, to be behind them in the conflict territory and to give every support that we can give.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tFr. Yavorskyy said that all 20 people who came on the pilgrimage are joined by their entire country in praying for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIt was a goal to come here and to be near to the Virgin to pray for Ukraine and to have peace faster in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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