A special interfaith service of Prayers for Peace was held at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, March 20.
Dean Beth Bretzlaff thanked those who attended “in-person and online as we offer prayers for peace in Ukraine and around our world, shared times of silent reflection, and find solace in sacred music. May this time be a blessing to us and to those we hold in our hearts today and in the days ahead.”
There were readings of sacred texts in three languages. Senior Rabbi Eytan Kenter from Kehillat Beth Israel read the texts in Hebrew. Sahada Alolo, Manager of Community Engagement Multifaith Housing Initiative, read the texts in Arabic. And the Rev. Canon Doug Richards, Vicar of Christ Church Cathedral, read the Biblical texts in English.
The Men of the Cathedral Choir with director Andrew McAnerney then sang The Kontakion of the Dead, a poetic feature of the traditional funeral service in the Orthodox Church, set to a hymn-like chant from the Kiev Tradition.
The service ended with a responsive reading of the Pledge of Transformation, a commitment made by Together For Hope partners, a sister organization to the Coventry Community of the Cross of Nails, which is open to partners of other faiths and no faith.
Offerings were to benefit Ukraine through the Red Cross.
“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.”