The four Reformed Bishops from Hungary assured their brothers and sisters in Transcarpathia of their support on behalf of the Hungarian reformed community at their visit in Beregszász (Berehove). During the historic visit, beside the donations, the Bishops also presented the deep sympathy.
All the four Bishops of the Reformed Church in Hungary travelled today to the Western region of Ukraine to meet with Bishop Sándor Zán Fábián, and pastors and elders of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia in Beregszász (Berehove).
Krisztina Badó, Bishop's secetary from the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, Western Ukraine, spoke movingly of the thousands of people fleeing across the border into Hungary where pastors and congregations are mobilizing to take care of these refugees.
On Ash Wednesday over 3000 Christians from 80 countries around the globe joined in a powerful prayer service of lament and solidarity with all those suffering from the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Our Reformed Church in Transcarpathia offered an eyewitness report and prayer.
Eszter Dani was appointed as head of the Synod’s Mission Office in 2012, and she played a pivotal role in strengthening the national Reformed Roma ministry. Rev. Dani, who is also a pastor in Solymár, has been senior advisor of the Mission Service since 1 January this year.
Eyewitness report of our colleague from Transcarpathia, who fled Ukraine and arrived to Budapest as a 'refugee'. But she couldn't stay in his friends' apartment, doing nothing. So she is working among the refugees as a volunteer at the railway stations in Budapest.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the Reformed Church in Hungary and Reformed congregations and organisations have all been trying to do their best to help refugees.
Medical Doctors of the Bethesda Children’s Hospital of RCH are waiting for Refugees arriving from Ukraine at the Nyugati railway station in Budapest, and soon volunteer doctors will also travel to Záhony, a city near the border.
Záhony, a city near the Ukrainian border, has become the hub for the intervention of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, with thousands of people crossing the border from Ukraine each day. In Budapest, Aid organisations, NGO’s and civilians work together in receiving refugees from the morning hours until midnight at the railway stations. The shortage of shelters represents the biggest challenge at the moment.
As a sign of global solidarity with the people and churches of Ukraine, the Conference of European Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and the World Methodist Council, issue an invitation to an online prayer service for Ukraine on Ash Wednesday – March 2 at 17:00 CET.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid has mobilised all of its capacities for the Emergency Response in Ukraine in the first two days of the Ukrainian-Russian armed conflict. HRCA transported more than 10 tons of food across the border, provided shelter for more than a hundred refugees directly, organized and maintained its presence at border crossings, and coordinated more than a thousand volunteers across the country.
On February 24 Russia attacked Ukraine and invaded the country. Due to the military operations and actual war in our neighbouring country, human lives are at risk, people lack basic supplies and have been forced to leave their homes. Internally displaced people have reached the Western part of Ukraine, called also Trans- or Subcarpathia and refugees are arriving to Hungary in growing numbers. The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) has been providing emergency response from the first day and will keep international partners informed about its operation by publishing daily updates.
At present, the question is not whether there has been a Christian Europe, a Christian Hungary, but whether it will exist in the future. It is up to us to achieve that through value based education - says Prof. László Trócsányi, new Rector (President) of the Károli Gáspár University of RCH.
Bishop Sándor Zán-Fábián, head of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, admonished pastors and elders to stay, even if they face massive emigration of the young generations. Taking care of the elderly left behind and internally displaced persons seeking refuge in West Ukraine is the most urgent social responsibility of the Hungarian reformed community in Ukraine. Read the circular sent to the nearly Hundred congregations.
“Peace must prevail,” say four global Christian communions who will host online prayer service on Ash Wednesday. RCH is also joining to work together to collectively support the churches and people of Ukraine.
On a personal note: the Rev Aaron C Stevens, minister of St. Columba’s Church of Scotland in Budapest reflects on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, just hours after it happened.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, the Charity organisation of RCH is also helping those suffering from the war in Ukraine with food supplies and fundraising. Meanwhile, spiritual leaders are urging prayer for peace and are in constant contact with our brothers and sisters in Transcarpathia, assuring the local community of their full support.
Sándor Zán-Fábián Bishop of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia, Ukraine, calls for prayer for peace in the country and stands for the peacful co-existence of all nationalities and relgious communities of the country. We asked him about the consequences of the critical situation, how much it impacts the life of the community in the Western part of the country. He said that people of Transcarpathia need fervent prayer for peace.
His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II held a reception in honor of Bishop Zoltán Balog, Ministerial President of the Synod of RCH during a visit of the Hungarian delegation in Syria, led by the Bishop.
The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) launched a donation campaign last year to support the humanitarian program offering help to Afghan refugees in the country. Thanks to the donations, RCH was able to offer 14 000 USD to the Presbyterian community in Pakistan.