Churches in Hesse: The war in Ukraine is the subject of many Easter sermons

The war in the Ukraine was the dominant theme of many sermons in the churches in Hesse around Easter.

Bishop Michael Gerber of Fulda called for solidarity with war refugees from the Ukraine.

It is also about paying attention to "how they can enrich us, with their experiences, with their story of suffering, but also with their impressive perseverance and cohesion," said Gerber in his Easter sermon in Fulda Cathedral, according to a statement from the diocese.

Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz called for fears to be overcome, especially in times of war.

"Many are afraid of the consequences of the brutal war in Ukraine, what personal consequences, what economic consequences," said the Catholic priest in his Easter sermon in Mainz Cathedral, according to the speech.

The images of destroyed cities and murdered people haunted quite a few people well into the night.

"And maybe people also have a primal fear of disappearance and meaninglessness."

The President of the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN), Volker Jung, denied the Russian rulers the right to join in the traditional Easter celebrations this year.

Terrible injustice is happening in Ukraine, Jung said in his Easter message.

“When people attack other people, destroying and killing their cities, they ally themselves with death.

They serve death and oppose God's message of life.” The powerful in the Kremlin could not join in the Easter celebrations and at the same time make people seek life.

The bishop of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW), Beate Hofmann, also referred to the Ukraine war and the pictures that tell of this war in her Easter message: “This year the picture of Jesus on the cross joins a Flood of many other images in which people suffer violence.” The empty tomb gives hope: “It is the central counter-image to the mass graves of Bucha,” said the bishop, referring to the resurrection.

It awakens hope of breaking through the momentum of the war and gives strength not to think in terms of enemy images.

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg said that despite the war, climate change and the Corona crisis, people should not lose hope.

Man should not give up the search for paradise lost, said Bätzing in his sermon on Easter Sunday in Limburg Cathedral, according to the diocese.

The resurrection of Jesus at Easter is "the message of hope in general," said the bishop, who is also chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference.