Nordic church leaders have called for the immediate return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, describing the forced transfers as a “deep wound inflicted upon the image of God”.
The appeal follows a visit to Ukraine by a delegation of Nordic bishops from 29 September to three October.
The visit formed a part of the Conference of European Churches’ (CEC) Pathways to Peace initiative, which promotes justice, cooperation, reconciliation, and peace within the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion.
In their statement, the bishops said: “Christian faith and human rights agree in acknowledging everyone’s infinite and inherent dignity.
“The Russian Federation must immediately stop all strikes and stop forced transfers of Ukrainian children and collaborate with the Red Cross in facilitating reunification with families and return to territories of origin.”
Among the delegation was Dr Jonas Adelin Jørgensen, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark and the CEC’s Pathways to Peace Steering Group.
“Meeting Ukrainian colleagues — pastors, relief staff, and community mobilizers — and easily seeing them again in real life was a joy and deeply meaningful,” Dr Jørgensen said.
“When you eat together, travel together and worship together, you might be co-journeying for a short while. For a brief moment, we’re in a position to walk beside Ukrainian Christians in a time of war and crises.”
During their visit, the bishops Ukrainian officials, including Parliament Chair Ruslan Stefanchuk.
They discussed issues starting from de-mining efforts to latest laws restricting religious groups linked to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Dr Jørgensen they spoke about “ balance questions concerning security with freedom of faith or belief”.
Archbishop Elia of the Orthodox Church of Finland jointly led a service with Metropolitan Epiphany of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine at St Michael’s Church in Kyiv.
Archbishop Elia reminded worshippers that Ukraine’s struggle will not be just for political freedom but for the freedom to live as God’s children of their homeland.
Quoting the Apostle Paul, he said: “For you probably did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption” (Romans 8:15).
Rev Frank-Dieter Fischbach, CEC’s General Secretary, described the visit as an indication of hope after years of conflict.
He stated: “Confronted with ongoing violence and seemingly never-ending violations of human rights and human dignity in Ukraine, we discover hope within the strong connections nurtured by this delegation of Nordic bishops.
“Let us proceed to make sure that the voices of churches are heard, their witness is realized, and that Pathways to Peace proceed to be forged.”
Reflecting on the trip, Dr Jørgensen described the war as “a humanitarian, financial, and spiritual catastrophe,” but said it has also fostered greater unity amongst Ukrainian churches.
Referring to his encounter with those that had lost family members on the frontlines of the war against Russia, he shared: “Everyone is traumatized by the losses. Everyone wants the war to stop and the violence to finish.”
Yet, he emphasised that true and lasting peace requires greater than the silencing of weapons.
“Therefore, Ukrainians are still fighting – for the success of their not possible cause,” he concluded.
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