On International Children’s Day, June 1, children in a dozen Ukrainian-American communities in the United States joined one another in praying for the health and safety of kids caught in the middle of the war in Ukraine. They prayed especially for the freedom of thousands of children kidnapped by Russian invaders from their Ukrainian families.

In the Lehigh Valley, a group of children gathered for the occasion at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem, where they joined parents, grandparents and leaders of the local Ukrainian American community in praying for a just end to the war in Ukraine and the restoration of missing children to their families. Locally.“ Children Praying for Children” was organized by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Branch 91. The event aimed to draw attention to the criminal actions of Vladimir Putin, the president of the Russian Federation, and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, both of whom have been indicted by the International Criminal Court for violating the Geneva Convention in this connection.

Nationally, the organization of “Children Praying for Children” was coordinated by Lehigh Valley resident Marta Fedoriw, chair of the UNWLA’s initiative “Return Ukraine’s Children.” Ms. Fedoriw gave introductory comments to the Bethlehem gathering. In addition to a group prayer led by three children of elementary school age, prayer was offered by Fr. Richard Jendras, pastor of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Allentown. The event concluded with Luka Chorwat, a student at Salisbury High School, reciting a Ukrainian poem.

A highlight of the Bethlehem event was a speech by Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07). Rep. Wild has sponsored a bipartisan resolution (H-Res. 149) condemning Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian children. In a news release from Nov. 8, 2023, she commented: “Russia’s crimes against children stand out as the most heinous aspect of their relentless campaign of state violence against Ukraine … I will continue working with my colleagues and the Ukrainian American community in PA-07 to bring this resolution up for a full vote on the House floor and to affirm our unwavering support for democracy and humanity.” At the Bethlehem gathering Rep. Wild reiterated her commitment to restoring the kidnapped children to their Ukrainian families and her support for Ukraine’s freedom.