What does it mean to be a Christian in times of war?  

This is the question being asked by many of the faithful in Ukraine, as they struggle with the devastation of an invasion by Russia that has now entered a second year. Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kyiv, says that the church is unable to answer that question because modern warfare is worse and much more destructive than the conflicts around which the Church has built its social teachings on warfare. Archbishop Shevchuk is no lightweight when it comes to the Church’s teaching. For many years he taught social and moral theology in Catholic seminaries and universities.

[The Catholic Church also has a long history in the Ukraine. Christianity first took hold in the country when in 989 Vladimir, Prince of Kyiv, embraced the faith and was baptized. When the churches of Rome and Constantinople split in the 11th century, Ukraine gradually followed the way of the Eastern church. Then, in 1595, the Ukrainian bishops met in a council at Brest-Litovsk. Seven bishops decided to re-establish communion with Rome. They were guaranteed that the Byzantine tradition and Liturgy would be respected.  Today, the Ukrainian Catholic Church has about five million members. Shevchuck was appointed archbishop of Kyiv in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI.]  

Well aware of the development of theology on war and peace, Shevchuk argues we cannot find answers that can be exact guides under these new circumstances. “It is a war that is not only fought with conventional weapons, but even the economy becomes a weapon; the same grain that Ukraine tries to export to the world becomes a weapon.” There is a need for further study of these issues so that the magisterium of the Church can give adequate answers. Daily, Shevchuk puts out a short video message. He encourages the people and addresses even such tricky questions as forgiving the enemy and reconciliation. Following a year of war, he says he feels deeply torn. On one hand there is a feeling of joy and gratitude because we were able to survive and serve the people. There is an immense universal solidarity. Yet, there is also a feeling of helplessness for not being able to prevent this war. The archbishop supports the principle he calls proportionate defense. Ukraine’s ability to defend itself must be proportionate to Russia’s ability to attack. However, the present role of the church is focused on treating wounds. “We have all been wounded.” He says. Restoring peace is not a question of territories. Such talk he says causes him to shiver with pain. For him (and many others) it is a question of people, not land. Many people have come back since the attack on Kyiv. At the beginning of the war, Kyiv was about 4 million people. When attacked, the city dropped to about 800,000. It has now returned to about 1.5 million. People return for economic reasons and for psychological reasons. They worry something will happen to their home. The church tries to help those who are there. The archbishop talked about a kindergarten recently opened for 120 children in a parish not far from Kyiv. Rebuilding lives damaged by war is a slow process. It is done one step at a time, one day at a time.

What does it mean to be a Christian in times of war? If we look carefully, I am sure we can find examples of many who are striving to do so…as best they can.

 Father Jeff