CHURCH leaders gathered in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London, on Monday, for an ecumenical “Hour of Prayer for Ukraine”.

The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, represented the Church of England at the event, and led the prayers with clerics of other denominations. About 50 others joined the service.

Speaking afterwards, Bishop Mullally described the service as “a moving demonstration of solidarity for the people of Ukraine, in the hope of a peaceful solution to this horrendous situation”.

She continued: “We must all — whether Christian, a follower of another faith, or none — do all we can to support both those fleeing from war and those who remain in Ukraine.”

The service began with the chanting of the Sixth Hour Office, led by the Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, the Rt Revd Kenneth Nowakowski.

“We cannot underestimate the power of prayer, as our Lord Jesus Christ told us that ‘Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with you,’” Bishop Nowakowski said.

Speaking after the service, he said that it was “a very moving experience to be united in prayer with so many leaders of the Churches and Christian faith communities of London”.

Other church leaders who took part in the service include: the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols; Coptic Orthodox Archbishop Angaelos of London; the Revd George Watt, Moderator of the United Reformed Church’s Thames North Synod; and the Revd Phil Barnard, Team Leader of the London Baptist Association.