'HERE TO PROTEST'

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger joined faith leaders across the Capital District on Feb. 28 for a night of prayer, reflection and peace for Ukraine, saying “we’re here to protest.” 

Bishop Scharfenberger also delivered a prayer for peace at the service — titled “War and Peace: An Hour of Prayer and Reflection for Ukraine” — which was held at Congregation Beth Emeth in ­Albany and live­streamed to bethemethalbany.org, where the service can be watched. 

“I’m going to tell you very bluntly, we’re here to protest,” Bishop Scharfenberger told The Evangelist before the service. “Prayer is a form of protest before God because war is dehumanizing. It brings us together when we see a few try to advance their own agendas and their own ideologies. … We want to cry out before God and ask for his divine help for all people of goodwill, regardless of what their faith is, and say no more.”

Co-sponsors for the night included the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, the Interfaith Alliance of Upstate NY, the Capital District Board of Rabbis and Cantors, the Jewish Federation of NENY, the Tendai Buddhist Institute and the Hindu Community of the Capital District Community. Faith leaders of all religions spoke under one roof with one common message: to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine that is taking innocent lives. 

Other speakers included Deb Riitano, chair of the Interfaith Alliance of Upstate New York; Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County Executive and Iraq War veteran; Imam Yacine Boudjema of the Al-Hidaya Center in Latham; Ven. Monshin Paul Naamon, abbot of the Tendai Buddhist Institute in East Chatham; and Rabbi Beverly Magidson, president of the Capital Region Board of Rabbis and Cantors. Mayor Kathy Sheehan led a reflection and candle-lighting ceremony.

Father Vasyl Dovgan of Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Troy also delivered a powerful speech about the impacts of destruction and violence on his country. 

“A lot of people are struggling,” he said, “I know that for certain because my family is there. I am from Ukraine.”
Before the ceremony, Father Dovgan spoke with a friend in Ukraine who was traveling to Poland to bring back food. “Even those who have money, there’s nothing to buy because the stores are empty,” Father Dovgan explained. “I am praying that God, God of love and peace, enlightens the leadership of the Russian federation to understand the tragic circumstances of these decisions and the actions of what they are doing, what kind of damages they are bringing to families and destroying lives.” 

During the service, Bishop Scharfenberger prayed that “God will give us hope.”

“We can pray that the Lord will move hearts,” said the Bishop. “I call on each of us to find ways in which we can bring assistance. Our support and prayer that unite us tonight I pray will be a sign of our love and our presence here.”