Met. Mitrofan on his participation in evacuation of people from “Azovstal”

Metropolitan Mitrofan helps to evacuate civilians from “Azovstal”. Photo: Horlivka and Slaviansk Eparchy’s press service

Metropolitan Mitrofan of Horlivka and Slaviansk, who took part in the evacuation of Mariupol civilians from the steelworks “Azovstal”, supported by the UN and the Red Cross, explained that the presence of a priest in such circumstances was necessary to create an atmosphere of trust and safety for the people, reports the website of the Horlivka and Slaviansk Eparchy.

"I greeted the people coming out of “Azovstal” with the words 'Christ is risen! ' <...> Many of them were crying. They needed first to be told that they were fine and that the war was over for them, to reassure them that they were in safety now. The senior ones were helped to walk, to carry bags," said the bishop.

According to the bishop, in these days he had to work as "God's advocate" – to answer the question of why God allows all this. Many people were just happy to communicate with someone from the clergy. People took a blessing, lamented that they had spent the Easter holidays in a bomb shelter, but were also glad to be alive.

"If similar situations occur in the future, the presence of a clergyman there is absolutely appropriate and even necessary. The smiles and goodwill were not directed at me personally, but people were happy to be welcomed by a representative of the Church. This created an atmosphere of trust and security: everyone was sure that in the presence of the priest no one was likely to allow any provocation. Overcoming mistrust was the most important task because both sides have reason to fear each other, and under such conditions, the evacuation process could have broken down at any moment," said Metropolitan Mitrofan.

He noted that the people who left “Azovstal” had not had bread for a long time, eating only cereals.

"They had water: I offered it to them, but they thanked and refused. Some were in mouldy clothes", the hierarch of the UOC shared his impressions.

In two days, the hierarch managed to participate in the family reunion. The parents had been at the “Azovstal” steelworks for 47 days and their child was staying with his godmother in the village of Vinohradnoye, a suburb of Mariupol.

"I promised that when the evacuation was over, I would definitely go there (to the address where the son was supposed to be) and if there was the child there, I would bring him to them and if not, I would find out where he might be. So, when the evacuation ended, I went to Vinohradnoye to look for that house. The house turned out to be intact, there was indeed a woman and a boy of about ten years old who lived there. At first, they did not even believe us that the family had survived, but then they agreed to go to Bezymennoye. The meeting of the mother and the son took place before my eyes. The boy's family – his mother, sister and grandparents – were still on the bus, the father was just being questioned. They were not allowed to get off the buses. Despite strong emotions, no one ran towards the relatives – first, they asked the armed men if they could. They, of course, allowed it. The family members hugged everyone with joy – not only one another but also us. This was the most vivid impression of that day," said Metropolitan Mitrofan.

According to the hierarch, the participation of the Church in evacuation from “Azovstal” is only one of the bright episodes of daily activities of the UOC clergy.

"The Church has always provided and will continue to provide assistance to people in a difficult situation. Mariupol priests are actively engaged in this work every day. They distribute humanitarian aid, help to find relatives, participate in all processes – and not at the insistence from above, but out of Christian motives," he stressed.

We remind you that Metropolitan Mitrofan of Horlivka and Slaviansk participated in the organization of the exit of civilians from the territory of “Azovstal” steelworks on April 30 and May 1.

As reported, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry proposed to hold a prayer procession of UOC believers to save the civilians of Mariupol and help the wounded.

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