Vigil to show solidarity with Ukrainians

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Mary and St James on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale

A vigil to show solidarity with Ukraine will be held at Rochdale’s Ukrainian Church on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, on Saturday (26 February).

The vigil is being held just a few days after a large-scale military attack on Ukraine by Russia on Thursday 24 February.

Russian troops have invaded neighbouring country Ukraine on the orders of its President Vladmir Putin, to “demilitarise and de-Nazify” the region.
 

Read more on the BBC: Ukraine conflict: what we know about the invasionPublished: 24 February 2022

The Ukrainian community in Rochdale is well established, with many residents' parents and grandparents coming to the UK as refugees after World War Two. Many have family in Ukraine and are deeply concerned for their safety with an appeal being launched a few days ago.
 

Read more: Rochdale's Ukrainians come together for emergency appealPublished: 14 February 2022

The borough of Rochdale has lengthy links to Ukraine, and since 1992 has been twinned with the city of Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine.

On the tenth anniversary of the twinning a bridge over the river Roch in Rochdale town centre was named after the city.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Mary and St James will be open from 1.30pm on Saturday for prayers and quiet reflection, before a service at 3pm.

The service and further prayers will be led by Reverend Anne Gilbert, Vicar of Rochdale Parish Churches, the Bishop of Middleton, a Ukrainian priest and an Orthodox priest.

Anyone wishing to show their support to Ukraine is welcome to attend.