“In the midst of life, we are surrounded by death,” said Bishop Dr. Bertram Mayer in his sermon on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at St. Ulrich’s Basilica in Augsburg, Germany. But the resurrection of Christ also means the victory of life: “In the midst of death we are surrounded by life.”
Together with Bishop Bertram, Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh, Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians of the Byzantine Rite in Germany and Scandinavia, marked himself with an ash cross as well. At the beginning of the Ash Wednesday service, Bishop Bertram Mayer greeted the Apostolic Exarch as a special guest and, at the Pope’s urging, dedicated the service to praying for peace in Ukraine.
An ecumenical prayer took place after Bishop Bertram’s prayer with Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh as well as the Bishop of Germany’s Evangelical Church, Axel Piper. Bertram Mayer cordially invited people to pray together. He also called for ongoing charitable activities for people in Eastern Europe, both in the form of donations and local support for refugees in Ukraine and Germany.
After the sermon, the bishop shared the ash cross with Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh. At the end of the Liturgy, the Apostolic Exarch addressed those present and thanked them and all Germans for their great solidarity. He called it the “light in the dark” for his native country.
Source: Synod UGCC