During this time of tremendous hardship and suffering for our brothers  and sisters in Christ in Ukraine, let us as Orthodox Christians apply ourselves to prayer.

Last Sunday and at every service since the new violence began, we have  prayed the following as a community, and you are encouraged to do the  same at home:


In addition, both our own bishop and first hierarch Metropolitan  Hilarion and the European ROCOR bishops have written letters regarding  the situation in Ukraine which you should read:


Today the Church reads from the book of Joel in the Scriptures, a timely  excerpt as we approach the Great Fast and especially as we have so many  temptations surrounding us. We've included the text below in Russian  and English and a link to this month's schedule at the bottom.

May God grant not only the world mercy, life, peace, health, salvation,  and visitation, but to each one of us the means by which we can come to  true repentance and love for Him and those near us.

Иоиля 2:12-26 (на 6-м часе)

Но и ныне еще говорит Господь: обратитесь ко Мне всем сердцем своим в посте, плаче и рыдании.
Раздирайте сердца ваши, а не одежды ваши, и обратитесь к Господу Богу  вашему; ибо Он благ и милосерд, долготерпелив и многомилостив и сожалеет  о бедствии.
Кто знает, не сжалится ли Он, и не оставит ли благословения, хлебного приношения и возлияния Господу Богу вашему?
Вострубите трубою на Сионе, назначьте пост и объявите торжественное собрание.
Соберите народ, созовите собрание, пригласите старцев, соберите отроков и  грудных младенцев; пусть выйдет жених из чертога своего и невеста из  своей горницы.
Между притвором и жертвенником да плачут священники, служители Господни,  и говорят: "пощади, Господи, народ Твой, не предай наследия Твоего на  поругание, чтобы не издевались над ним народы; для чего будут говорить  между народами: где Бог их?"
И тогда возревнует Господь о земле Своей, и пощадит народ Свой.
И ответит Господь, и скажет народу Своему: вот, Я пошлю вам хлеб и вино и  елей, и будете насыщаться ими, и более не отдам вас на поругание  народам.
И пришедшего от севера удалю от вас, и изгоню в землю безводную и  пустую, переднее полчище его - в море восточное, а заднее - в море  западное, и пойдет от него зловоние, и поднимется от него смрад, так как  он много наделал зла.
Не бойся, земля: радуйся и веселись, ибо Господь велик, чтобы совершить это.
Не бойтесь, животные, ибо пастбища пустыни произрастят траву, дерево  принесет плод свой, смоковница и виноградная лоза окажут свою силу.
И вы, чада Сиона, радуйтесь и веселитесь о Господе Боге вашем; ибо Он  даст вам дождь в меру и будет ниспосылать вам дождь, дождь ранний и  поздний, как прежде.
И наполнятся гумна хлебом, и переполнятся подточилия виноградным соком и елеем.
И воздам вам за те годы, которые пожирали саранча, черви, жуки и гусеница, великое войско Мое, которое послал Я на вас.
И до сытости будете есть и насыщаться и славить имя Господа Бога вашего,  Который дивное соделал с вами, и не посрамится народ Мой во веки.

Joel 2:12-26 (6th Hour)

Now, therefore, says the Lord, Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God,  For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness;  And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him-- A  grain offering and a drink offering For the Lord your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders,  Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from  his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.
Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, Weep between the porch and  the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O Lord, And do not give  Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why  should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' "
Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.
The Lord will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I will send you  grain and new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied by them; I will no  longer make you a reproach among the nations.
But I will remove far from you the northern army, And will drive him  away into a barren and desolate land, With his face toward the eastern  sea And his back toward the western sea; His stench will come up, And  his foul odor will rise, Because he has done monstrous things.
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the Lord has done marvelous things!
Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are  springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine  yield their strength.
Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God;  For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the  rain to come down for you-- The former rain, And the latter rain in the  first month.
The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,  The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My  great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be  satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt  wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you  shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And  there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. And it shall  come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your  sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream  dreams, Your young men shall see visions.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the  Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall  never be put to shame.