Since the aggressor’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the churches of Lviv have been actively involved in the accommodation of forced migrants fleeing the war. According to the head of the city evacuation commission Yevhen Boyko, 85 religious communities accept migrants in our city. Thus, in almost a month, church communities have provided shelter for about 60,000 people from all over Ukraine.
One of the first to open its doors was the pilgrimage center in Bryukhovychi, which during this time hosted more than 2,000 migrants from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and other cities and towns. Mostly women with children, but also elderly people who were evacuated from the area of active hostilities. Note that the shelter was given to those who needed it, without being tied to people’s religion.
In the Pilgrim’s House, forcibly displaced Ukrainians have not only a safe place to spend the night with a roof over their heads, but also a full three-course meal, medical and psychological assistance. The center also helps those who wish to cross the border. People were sent to Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany and even Italy. About a hundred people go on the road every day. And in their place come the next families. About 250-300 people live in the House every day.
“We will accept people as long as necessary. In the beginning, people even slept in the corridors, although our rooms have space for almost 200 people. There were nights when people came to us at night at the gate and asked to spend the night. In recent weeks, we have all been living here with people. Workers rarely get home. Every night we have a service – we invite guests to a joint prayer for peace in Ukraine, “said Father Mykola.
Caritas Spes of the Lviv Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Committee for Medical and Social Assistance of the RCC, the PCU, and the UGCC in the Lviv region help to take care of refugees. In this way, victims of hostilities receive not only basic needs, but also spiritual and psychological support.
It will be recalled that even before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, a meeting of the city authorities with the city clergy took place in Lviv, at which the actions of the Churches in case of war were discussed. The Lviv Council of Bishops welcomed the city’s initiative to help the civilian population and stated its readiness to take care of internally displaced persons, including receiving them in churches, using church basements as shelter, and teaching the clergy to provide home care.