Hundreds to stand in solidarity with Ukraine on #RedWednesday

Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Ondo

Source: ACN

London's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral will host #RedWednesday 2022, (23 November) as hundreds stand in solidarity with the suffering people of Ukraine.

The annual #RedWednesday event raises the plight of persecuted Christians to governments and societies across the West, informing them on how to alleviate the suffering of the world's most innocent victims of indiscriminate violence, harassment and oppression.

#RedWednesday 2022 includes prayer and Greek Catholic Divine Liturgy, followed by refreshments.

In talks held after the service, Bishop Jude Arogundade will highlight the growing wave of terrorism targeting Christians and other minorities - kidnappings, killings of priests and lay people, land-grabs and attacks on churches packed with faithful.

Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Ondo said: "I say a genocide is now taking place. There is a concerted effort to drive Christians out of their lands by various means, including the kidnapping and killing of lay people and priests, stealing land belonging to Christians and attacking churches during services.

"The Christians are pushing back. We need to stand up for what we believe."

ACN UK National Director, Caroline Hull, said: "Red Wednesday should be in everyone's calendar-when we here in the UK take a stance against violations of religious freedom around the world, we give those without a voice a chance to be heard. I'm standing up for Christians and other religious minorities who are discriminated against or persecuted simply for living out their faith. Red Wednesday is a call to action for people of all faiths and none. Please join us to support all those who suffer for their religious beliefs."

There will also be a presentation on ACN's Persecuted and Forgotten: A Report on Christians Oppressed for their Faith 2020-22, due to be launched in Parliament on Wednesday, 16 November. The report provides an overview of the situation facing persecuted Christians, focusing on 24 countries including China, Pakistan, Burma, much of the Middle East and parts of Africa such as Nigeria, which have been hit hard by Islamist violence.

The Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral is at 21-22 Binney Street, London W1K 5BQ. There will be Prayer and Rosary from 5.45pm - 6.05pm. Divine Liturgy (Holy Mass) will take place from 6.15pm - 7.30pm. Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Ondo, Nigeria and John Pontifex, ACN (UK) Head of Press and Information will be speaking from 8-9pm

Refreshments will be provided by the Ukrainian Refugee Centre before the talk.

All proceeds from #RedWednesday 2022 will go towards ACN's Ukraine Appeal, which supports the ongoing work of the Church in Ukraine.

Please RSVP for free at: www.acnuk.org/redwednesday