As the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, St Andrew’s Cathedral will host a special choral evensong this Thursday, on the eve of the anniversary, to pray for peace and the welfare of the country and its people.

The music will include two pieces by Ukrainian composers, played by Ukrainian organist Alexandra Sidorenko, as well as the haunting anthem Prayer for Ukraine by English composer John Rutter – which he wrote shortly after the invasion, with a simple Ukrainian text that says:

Боже, Україну храни

Дай нам силу, вірі, й надії

Отче наш, Отче наш

Амінь

 

Good Lord, protect Ukraine.

Give her strength, courage, faith, hope, our Father.

Amen.

“The Bible says to weep with those who weep, and so we wanted to stand in sympathy, and to express it in prayer, for the suffering people of Ukraine on the anniversary of the war starting,” says the Dean of Sydney, Sandy Grant. “We want to lift our voices to God to appeal for the welfare of that nation.”

The Rev Canon Tim Swan from Anglican Aid will lead Thursday’s 5.15pm service and preach on Psalm 90 (“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations”), which will also be sung by the choir.