Despite cold weather and short notice, a group of approximately 70 people gathered in Bethlehem’s Payrow Plaza in the evening of Feb. 25 to join a candlelight vigil in support of Ukraine’s ongoing war of independence.

Convened by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group, priests from the Lehigh Valley’s Ukrainian churches, both Orthodox and Catholic, joined Protestant ministers and a Jewish rabbi in prayers and songs in multiple languages – English, Ukrainian, Hebrew and Latin – calling for justice and peace in Ukraine.

In the crowd were a number of refugees from Ukraine who have been sponsored to live in the Valley.

In his opening comments Father Richard Jendras, pastor of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Allentown, emphasized the gratitude of Ukrainians for the support they have received from the United States, both military and humanitarian. He asked the crowd to continue their prayers for peace but also to look for opportunities to support Ukrainians financially, if possible.

Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom in Bethlehem spoke of the Jewish community’s commitment to the Ukrainian people and their struggle for freedom. At the conclusion of his comments, members of the crowd joined him in singing a moving Hebrew song calling for peace.

A highlight of the vigil was an impassioned speech by Congresswoman Susan Wild (D) who described a visit she made to Ukraine with a bipartisan group of eight members of the House of Representatives. What they saw there convinced Republicans and Democrats alike that Ukrainians must be given American support until their freedom is assured. Also, since returning to Washington, they have continued to communicate with one another about policy on Ukraine. Wild stayed at the vigil till the end, talking with members of the crowd.