Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, October 7, 2020
Photo: pravoslavie.kg
As post-election protests rock the country, with opposition forces storming governmental buildings and seizing power, His Grace Bishop Daniel of Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan of the Russian Orthodox Church is calling on the people to offer fervent prayers for peace.
Protesters say Sunday’s parliamentary elections were rigged, and officials have promised that the election would be held again. One person was killed and 686 wounded in the unrest across the country as of Tuesday afternoon.
Before the election, His Grace called on the faithful to ensure that the vote was held peacefully, in good order, and without coercion. His new message published yesterday on the site of the Bishkek Diocese, reads:
Dear Kyrgyzstanis, brothers and sisters!
In connection with the events taking place in Kyrgyzstan, I would like to call all to prayer for peace. Let us offer increased prayer that everything will be peaceful, calm, and for the good of our people.
May God grant that all processes take place within the legal framework, with full understanding that a peaceful outcome to the current situation, and the further development of our country, our state is the pledge of a good future and the well-being of our citizens and our republic.
With respect and prayer for you,
+DANIEL
BISHOP OF BISHKEK AND KYRGYZSTAN
His Grace’s appeal to the people also includes prayers for the increase of love and the uprooting of hatred and animosity:
Troparion, Tone 4:
Thou didst bind Thine Apostles in the bonds of love, O Christ, and hast firmly bound us, Thy faithful servants, to Thyself, that we may fulfill Thy commandments and have unfeigned love for one another, through the prayers of the Theotokos, O only Lover of mankind.
Kontakion, Tone 5:
Kindle our hearts with flames of love for Thee, O Christ God, that being inflamed by this, in heart, mind and soul, we may love Thee with all our strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, and that keeping Thy commandments, we may glorify Thee, the Giver of all good.
A prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ:
O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Who gave unto Thy disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another: Accept this offering for the remission of all the sins of Thy right-believing servants. And by Thy Holy Spirit renew within us love for Thy goodness and the people of our Kyrgyzstani land, which has waxed cold within us. Establish this with strength in our hearts, that, fulfilling Thy commandments, we may seek on Earth not our own ends, but have zeal for that which is to Thy glory and the building up of our neighbor, and for salvation, that we might live in peace with all in this age, and be accounted worthy together with those who have been found pleasing unto Thee, to glorify Thee in the Heavenly abodes with the Thy Father Who is without beginning and the Holy Spirit unto the ages of ages. Amen.
