Bishop Bohdan (Dziurakh) in Kyiv met with the prior of the Taizé community

It is noteworthy that on the eve of September 21^st, as part of his first visit to Ukraine, Brother Alois prayed together with youth of different confessions in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord in Kyiv.  In his homily to the gathered, he emphasized that over the last twenty years many young Ukrainians have participated in pilgrimages to Taizé.

“I am happy that I have come here so that together we can fortify our faith in Christ, our faith in God,” said the speaker.  The prior of Taizé believes that believing in God does not mean revoking the world, and the Church is not a parallel community, because Christ sends into the world those who believe in Him, so that they can become the salt of the earth, the ferment of faith and harmony.

“Walls exist between nations and continents and between Christians themselves.  There are walls close to all of us – in our hearts.  And we can attempt to dismantle them through the assistance of the inexhaustible source of trust,” – explained Brother Alois, noting that the prayer community Taizé tries to instill into life Christ’s prayer which calls for unity  among all of his followers.

Unity, according to Brother Alois, means moving towards those others until we can discover in them all that is the best given them by God.  This also means together doing everything possible, and even more than we think, so that in awaiting unity we can permit the Holy Ghost to unite us.

“Today faith is perceived as a risk – a risk of faith.  We need to understand that faith does not as an obligation give us ready answers to all of our questions.   It is, more than anything else, a union with God.  And we should open our hearts to personal relationships with Him,” noted Brother Alois from the Taizé community.

Note that the Center of Academic Pastoral Care of the Kyiv UGCC Archeparchy assisted in the organization of the All-Ukrainian meeting with Brother Alois.  And it is thorough the initiative of the Center that on the last Sunday of every month for several years now, there is an ecumenical prayer in the spirit of Taizé in the Kyiv Church of St. Nicholas the Good which is attended by youth from all confessions.  Also for some time now, youth from throughout Ukraine visit the Taizé community in France.  And the brothers from Taizé visit young people, parishes, and leaders of various Christian confessions, existing in Ukraine.

UGCC Department of Information

Note:

Today the Taizé community counts about a hundred brothers (Catholics and faithful of various Protestant confessions) from some thirty countries.  The mere existence of such a body is a concrete sign of the reconciliation between separated Christians and countries.

The brothers live only from their own work. They do not accept offerings and do not put personal inheritances on their personal accounts; the community distributes it among those most in need.

Since 1962, the brothers and youth of Taizé community continually visit Eastern Europe, always preserving their discreetness and caution, in order to be closer to those who have been imprisoned by their own boundaries.

The founder, Brother Roger, died on July 25, 2005 in his 90-th year of life.  He was murdered during an evening prayer.  Brother Alois, whom Brother Roger named as his successor many years ago, is the present prior of the community.