Stations of the Cross with Bishop Taylor for People of Ukraine

Friday, March 4, 2022

Location: Cathedral of St. Andrew - Little Rock

"Consider lifting the people of Ukraine up in prayer to the Lord in the context of stations this Friday, for an end to the conflict, for peace and justice, for all who have died and for all who are in harm’s way." — Bishop Anthony B. Taylor

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will leading the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock with special focus on praying for Ukraine. All are welcome to join him. If unable to pray with him in person, you are welcome to pray the stations online praying for peace in Ukraine.

He extended the invitation on his Facebook page on Monday, Feb. 28.

"To all the people of the Diocese of Little Rock: In most of our parishes we will be praying the Stations of the Cross this Friday. I recommend that you consider lifting the people of Ukraine up in prayer to the Lord in the context of Stations this Friday, for an end to the conflict, for peace and justice, for all who have died and for all who are in harm’s way.

"Prayer also for all the simple people caught up in this unspeakable tragedy, including even the Russian soldiers who in some cases are victims too, pawns in the power plays of autocratic leaders. War harms everyone, without exception and so everyone needs our prayers.

"I will be presiding at Stations of the Cross at the Cathedral at 6 pm this Friday and the war in Ukraine will be the focus of our prayer there. If your parish does not pray the Stations of the Cross or otherwise have no Friday plans, you are certainly welcome to join me at the Cathedral for Stations and prayer for Ukraine there.

"Also, on Wednesday — Ash Wednesday — we will be taking up our annual collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe with a special focus on Ukraine this year."

Prayer for Ukraine

The following prayer was adapted from a prayer received courtesy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada, “Prepared by the sinful Reader Ilya, feast of the Hieromartyr Clement of Ancyra. Brampton, 2022.” Bishop Taylor will use this prayer during the Stations of the Cross he will lead Friday, March 4 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock for the people of Ukraine.

O Lord God of powers, and God of our salvation,
O God, who alone work wonders.
Look down with mercy and compassion
on your humble servants,
and out of love for mankind hearken
and have mercy on us and on the land of Ukraine.

For, behold, enemies have once more gathered
together, in order to cause division and enmity.
But you who know all things, understand that they
have risen up unrighteously, and that it will be
impossible to oppose their multitudes
unless you show us your help.

Therefore, we who are sinful and unworthy pray
unto you in repentance and with tears. Help us,
O God, our Savior, and deliver the land of Ukraine
for the sake of the glory of your name, that the
enemy may not to say: “Their God has forsaken
them, and there is none to deliver and save them.”

But let every nation understand that you
are our God, and we your people are
always protected under your dominion. 

Reveal your mercy, O Lord, and let the words
spoken by Moses unto the people of Israel
(Exodus 14:13-14) be applied to us:
“Fear not. Stand still, and see the salvation
of the Lord. For the Lord shall fight for us.”
Work for us a sign for good, that they
who are filled with hatred may see our faith
and be humbled and shaken.

Yes, O Lord God, our Savior, our strength
and hope and help, remember not the
transgressions and unrighteousness
of your faithful people, and turn not
away from us in your anger.

But visit your mercies and compassions upon
your humble servants, those who fight in defense
of Ukraine and her much-suffering people,
outnumbered though they be, and hear us
who fall down before your deep compassion.

With your mercy enlighten and make glad the hearts
of the civil authorities, and strengthened them
by your might. 

Rise up to their help and lay low the evil councils
purposed against them by the enemy.
Judge them that provoke and make war,
and turn their impious boldness into fear and flight.
And unto them that you have judged to lay down
their lives for faith and country,
forgive them their trespasses, and in the day
of the righteous reckoning grant unto
them incorruptible crowns. 

For you are the health and victory and salvation
of them that put their hope in you,
and unto you do we send up glory.
To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. 

Amen.