Dozens of hands sheltered the small, flickering candle flames from the biting Sunday evening winds as several dozen people gathered in Dover to pray for the people of Ukraine.
The crowd sat in front of Wesley Church Educational Center more than two weeks after Russia began its invasion into Ukraine. The vigil, which was organized by the Central Delaware Interfaith Alliance, brought together leaders and parishioners from across a variety of faiths and denominations.
Attendees braced themselves from the frigid nighttime air as they recited prayers and held candles in the center of the city.
The vigil is the latest show of support from residents of the First State, following weeks of services, protests and gatherings. Wilmington businesses and churches have been garnering donations to support the people of Ukraine through humanitarian aid.
Russian missile strikes have killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed residential neighborhoods in Ukraine’s biggest cities.
Former Delaware parents who now live in Ukraine have also shared their harrowing stories of fleeing the country as they attempted to escape falling bombs near their home.
Thus far, almost 2.7 million Ukrainians have fled the country, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Additionally, about 1,300 Ukrainian troops have been killed since Russia began its invasion, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
For Anthony Falkowski, a chaplain with Wesley United Methodist Church in Dover, it has been extremely difficult to watch the events unfold in Ukraine. Attending Sunday’s vigil was one of the ways that he thought he could help, although he wishes he could do more.
“It just breaks my heart,” he said. “It’s like seeing my own children and my own grandchildren.”
Still, he emphasized the importance of people showing up to events like the vigil.
“A gathering like this is far bigger than it appears,” he said. “There’s nothing too small that can be done as far as I’m concerned.”
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Speakers at the vigil commended the showing of unity among the different faiths of the community to come together and support Ukraine. A few candles blew out as different religious leaders from the community climbed the steps to speak to the crowd.
Arqum Rashid, Imam of the Islamic Society of Central Delaware, described the vigil as a way to show a strong, united stance against war and aggression.
“It shows a stance beyond one particular group in one particular religion,” he said. “It shows solidarity on both fronts, from a humanitarian perspective and also from the perspective of combined faith ideologies.”
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Rashid emphasized the importance of showing solidarity and support for one another, regardless of any shared religions.
Similarly, Anne Strickert, pastor at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Dover, described the event as a way to pray for and support not only the people of Ukraine but also the people of surrounding areas who are taking in refugees.
“Many people here are acutely aware of what it means to send people off to war,” Strickert said in regard to the community’s proximity to Dover Air Force Base. “And while we ourselves maybe haven’t had to face that on our shores, many of our sons and daughters have.”
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For Strickert as well as many others, the vigil is only a start and they will be looking for more ways to support the country and its people. After the last prayer was recited, a moment of silence was held, leaving only the sound of the flickering candles to be heard.
Contact José Ignacio Castañeda Perez at jcastaneda1@delawareonline.com.
