Yesterday lunchtime, Zero and I joined the rally in Trafalgar Square in support of the people of Ukraine. The rally, and others like it, have been organized by a Ukrainian group London Euromaidan. Yesterday's rally was one of several taking place in the UK, and taking place again today.
At one point, Zero observed how good it was that we were able to take part in this rally without fear of arrest, as would almost certainly have happened had we been instead in Moscow demonstrating in support of Ukraine. At one level, our participation was a political and social sign to other people of our opposition to the action of President Putin and a sign of our support for the people of Ukraine. At another level, though, it had an ethical significance. The making of a public gesture, and the effort that that may involve, also represents a statement of one's own soul in saying, in this instance, a clear "No" to the action of Russian forces in Ukraine. It is a statement that we do not consent to President Putin's war in Ukraine. This is the underlying ethical principle of the political principle of freedom of expression.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain joined the Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in London and Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London to lead prayers at the beginning of the rally. Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti's presence was appreciated by those organizing the rally - his profile indicates both why Archbishop Gugerotti would wish to take part and why his participation would be appreciated. Archbishop Gugerotti is an expert in the Eastern Churches and previously Nuncio to both Belarus and Ukraine. A report of Archbishop Gugerotti's attendance at the rally is on the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales: "We are all Ukrainians".
Our parish priest has suggested that we pray the prayer to St Michael the Archangel for the people of Ukraine, and it is being said publicly at the end of each of the weekday Masses. As events unfold in the Ukraine it appears more and more an appropriate choice of prayer.
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