In the midst of the horror of war, amidst shattered homes and broken cities, there still burns a steady flame - the flame of faith, of hope, and of love. Across the ocean, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America, under the spiritual leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and with the tireless voice of Archbishop Daniel, continues to radiate that light into the darkness of war-torn eastern Ukraine.

This is not a story of mere words. It is a testament to love incarnate - love that is measured in packages of food, in the quiet delivery of medicine to an elderly woman who can no longer walk, in blankets wrapped around children displaced from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, Myrnograd, and Kostyantynivka. This is love that does not speak from afar but walks hand-in-hand with those who suffer.

"Every day, our phones ring with voices on the edge - people who have lost homes, families, safety. And yet in those same calls, we hear hope. Because they know that the Church has not forgotten them,” said Very Rev. Fr. Kostyantyn Kuznetskov of Kostyantynivka. “The embrace of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA surrounds the broken, the lost, and the hurting—not only with words, but with real help, real healing.”

Through the cooperation and blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Serhii of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, especially in the now-devastated city of Mariupol and its surrounding region, aid continues to pour in - carefully coordinated and lovingly delivered by clergy, faithful, and volunteers. Even while bombs fall, they walk into danger, carrying bread, water, and light.

The Diocese of Donetsk, guided by the wisdom of Metropolitan Serhii, with Very Rev. Fr. Kostyantyn Kuznetsov and his family - who themselves remain in Ukraine - has become a pillar of resistance and mercy. “The generosity of the faithful in America and France is not just a gift, it is lifeblood for our people,” said Fr. Kostyantyn. “They know they are not alone, and that knowledge brings strength.”

In a powerful witness of faith and solidarity, the parish family of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Youngstown, Ohio recently raised $8,000 through their charitable outreach ministry. Led by Fr. Mykola Zomchak, the funds have already been converted into life-saving food and hygiene kits for the displaced and wounded.

“We cannot close our eyes,” Fr. Mykola said. “Our brothers and sisters in Ukraine suffer terribly. We may not be able to stop the missiles, but we can ease the hunger. We can give a mother something to feed her children tonight. That is our calling - to live love. To become Christ’s hands.”

Archbishop Daniel added a note of deep gratitude from the Consistory Office: “Fr. Mykola and his parish family are among the many who choose self-sacrifice instead of comfort. They remind us that love must be active. Love is not simply an emotion - it is movement, it is struggle, it is offering.”

Scripture tells us: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)

This verse echoes in the hearts of the faithful as aid continues to arrive in towns like Pavlohrad and villages like Hannivka. There, hundreds of displaced families receive food, hygiene products, and warm blankets - made possible through the giving hearts of the Ukrainian American faithful.

In the town of Samar, in Kramatorsk, Kostyantynivka, and beyond, social service teams - blessed by the Church - stand in solidarity with victims. They do not only bring material assistance; they bring the assurance that someone still cares.

“We do not stop because the pain is too great,” Archbishop Daniel reflected. “We continue because the pain is so great. Love must be made real in acts of kindness, in self-offering, in compassion that walks through fire.”

In the face of destruction, the Church reminds us that God has not abandoned Ukraine. His love is carried across oceans in the hearts of the faithful, in boxes of aid, in whispered prayers from pews in New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, and beyond.

“Let our children see that faith is more than words,” Archbishop Daniel urges. “Let them grow up knowing that in this moment of global crisis, we chose to love more - not less.”

A Call to Continue the Mission

This is not the time to rest. This is not the time to turn away.

This is the moment for all faithful to rise in compassion, to remember the mission of Christ: to bind the broken, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to walk with the suffering.

As the Church of the USA and the Church of Ukraine join hands in ministry, we too must open our hands, our hearts, and our homes.

Let us not pause. Let us invest. Let us rebuild lives together. In love. In faith. In Christ.

If you would like to contribute to the ongoing humanitarian efforts, donations can be made through the official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA or through your local parish.

Together, we can do more peace and good.