Bells of St Paul's Cathedral ring for Ukraine + video links

St Paul's - Photo by Bill Eccles on Unsplash

Source: Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral

The bells of St Paul's Cathedral in London, together with those of Durham Cathedral, rang for 15 minutes on Sunday, (4pm London time) with the bells of churches in Lviv. More churches and cathedrals across the UK and Europe - including Paris, Cologne, Madrid, Vienna, and Berlin joined in.

The European Association of Cathedral Master Builders said churches "from Norway to Malta and from Spain to Ukraine" took part.

"Europe is burning. With the ringing, we pray for all who are affected by this war. With the ringing, we pray for peace."

Right Rev Kenneth Nowakowski bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of the Holy Family of London said: "We are so grateful for the St Paul's Cathedral Community in London for praying today at the Evensong Liturgy (Vespers) for the people of Ukraine, for peace in Ukraine and for those who are fleeing from harms way to other countries of safe haven. The ringing of the historic bells of St Paul's Cathedral in London are a true sign of solidarity with our Ukrainian sisters and brothers in this darkest of hours."

During the sermon delivered by the Rev David Ison, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London, two sentences were especially moving and inspirational for the Ukrainian community in London and abroad:

"It's not only encounters with people that can touch and change us. At the end of this service some of us will go outside to hear the cathedral's bells being rung in solidarity with the church bells of Lviv in western Ukraine, which are being rung at the same moment: and we are glad to have representatives of the Ukrainian Churches and government here with us."

"Today we ring the bells in solidarity with Ukraine, not only to call for justice and peace, not just to warn us of the dangers we face. We ring the bells to call us to meet with God; to lay before God our fears and our hopes, and to pray for those in Lviv and across Ukraine who face violence and war."

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