We need God and each other to not only get through this time physically, but also to strengthen our souls, said Bishop Zoltán Balog, Ministerial President of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary, when asked about the prayer with refugees from Ukraine living now in Hungary. Refugees from Transcarpathia and other parts of Ukraine are invited to join the worship in the church of the Reformed congregation of Budapest-Fasor and gather for a joint prayer on 20 March at 7 pm.
Why was it important to organise a national prayer service in Budapest for refugees who fled the conflict in Ukraine?
We need God and we need each other, not only to get through this time physically, but also to strengthen our souls. This is one of the reasons why my fellow bishops and the Goodwill Ambassador of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, who has since been elected President of the Republic, recently visited the pastors and leaders of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, Ukraine. We also realized that not only those Hungarians in Transcarpathia who have stayed at home who need physical and spiritual support, but also those who have crossed the border because they did not feel safe. We also have a responsibility for them.
Why can the evening prayer service on 20 March be a good opportunity to assume this responsibility?
Prayer is not only a way of connecting with God, but also an opportunity to strengthen the community of those who pray together. And those who flee - whether they believe in Christ or not - need community. Our brothers and sisters from the Western region of Ukraine, who have been members of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, will be strengthened in their unity with their fellow Christians in Hungary. And those whose refugee status prompts them to enter the church, perhaps for the first time in their lives, can experience the power of Christian community when praying to God together. With this event we want to express our deep conviction that true peace can be found in God.
Why is this specific church in Budapest the right place for an evening prayer?
Jesus says, that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”. This is a great confirmation, because it means that the Almighty is not looking upon us with grace because of a specific place or the occasion, but because He sees the intention of our hearts. Yet our churches are important to us: they were built for the glory of God, as homes for our communities. We could have held services in many other places, yet we observe that many people have fled to Budapest in recent weeks. The recently renovated Fasor church was a good location, both in terms of its size and location, not to mention the fact that it is home to one of the largest congregations in Budapest, a community of committed believers.
All are invited and welcome to the Reformed Church of Fasor on 20 March at 7PM for an evening prayer service for the refugees from Transcarpathia and other parts of Ukraine. Bishop Zoltán Balog, ministerial president of the Synod, and Zoltán Osztie, catholic priest of the Budapest-Belváros Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, will lead the worship. Ukrainian interpretation will be provided.