Because God Is Near: How Faith, Pizza, and Prayer Are Saving Ukraine’s Orphans

In the shadow of war, when darkness seeks to swallow childhood and fear threatens to suffocate innocence, there stands a quiet miracle - a movement of mercy, a wave of compassion, a sacred mission born of faith. It is the mission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA - led by the Council of Bishops under the spiritual guidance of Archbishop Daniel - to carry the light of Christ into the broken places of Ukraine. That love - sacrificial, prayerful, and deeply human - is what the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA brings to Ukraine’s orphaned and forgotten children.

Recently, through a humble yet powerful act of charity, the Church extended its embrace to a group of children in the city of Marganets - a city ravaged by shelling, trembling under the weight of war, yet still clinging to the divine promise of hope.  Through the courageous, heartfelt ministry of Rev. Fr. Serhii Kramarenko and with the unwavering support of Archbishop Daniel and the faithful across the U.S., the Church has turned mercy into movement, and compassion into action. Together, they deliver not only food and essentials, but a powerful message to the most vulnerable: You are not forgotten. You are loved. You are not alone.

Recently, Fr. Serhii sat among packages prepared for the children of a family-style orphanage in Marganets, a city that trembles almost daily from rocket attacks. The packages were simple: pillows, hygiene products, snacks, and pizza. But inside each box was something greater - a piece of the Church’s heart.

“Dear friends - Mercy and Acts of Charity through Love continue. I am sitting now among the purchased packages, looking at these children's delicacies, and I cannot hold back my tears,” Fr. Serhii wrote.

“We are not just bringing packages — we are bringing hope. We are bringing pizza so that they smile, we are bringing a good mood so that they believe, and of course - prayer. Because without prayer, there is no road, no love, no true joy.”

The children, many of whom have seen more tragedy than most adults, received more than goods - they received healing. The warmth of a slice of pizza, the softness of a new pillow, and the sincere embrace of people who cared became a testimony of God’s presence in the midst of suffering.

While toys may bring momentary joy, real restoration begins with dignity. Clean clothes, warm food, proper hygiene, and comfort are the unseen treasures these children long for.

“To care for a child’s soul,” said Archbishop Daniel, “we must also care for their body.

As a Church, we are not only continuing the historical mission of caring for orphans and widows - we are fulfilling a sacred responsibility. This is not just charity. This is Christianity.”

The Church’s mission reminds us that love is more than sentiment. It is action - tangible, sacrificial, and rooted in the Gospel.

“Historically,” Archbishop Daniel continued, “the Christian community was known for defending the vulnerable. Today, as bombs fall and cities burn, we must be known again — not for our silence, but for our response.”

At the heart of the orphanage in Marganets stands Olena Tymoshenko, a teacher and caregiver who has embraced her role as mother to many.

“This love,” writes Fr. Serhii, “is not just care. It is a cross - daily, maternal, and sacrificial.”

And into this holy space of suffering and hope, the Church entered - arms full, hearts open.

The Church did not only bring goods. They prayed with the children. They spoke of God, who became a Child. Of Christ, who fled violence as a refugee in Egypt. Of the One who holds trembling hands in the night when the rockets fall.

“If you don’t have an earthly father,” Fr. Serhii gently told the children, “remember, you have a Heavenly One. And even when the rockets are thundering, He sits quietly next to you and holds your hand.”

Saint John Chrysostom once said: “If you see someone in need, then you are already on the path to salvation.”

And the Desert Father Venerable Barsanuphius the Great, reminds us: “There is no greater mercy than to warm a soul that is cold from orphanhood.”

This is what the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA is doing - warming orphaned souls, one smile at a time.

“Today,” Fr. Serhii reflected, “I saw the eyes of children who have experienced more than we adults. But they laughed. Because there was a Man nearby. And there was God.”

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, through the love of her faithful, was that presence. Is that presence. Will continue to be that presence.

“When the children open these packages tomorrow, when they feel the warmth of human hearts, we will be there with you,” wrote Fr. Serhii in gratitude to the Church.

“Because everyone who helped will stand by their side - in their smiles, in their hugs, in those little prayers whispered under pillows at night.”

The mission is clear. The need is great. And the Gospel imperative is urgent. Love must be an action.

As the war rages on, more children will need help. More cities will fall under fire. But the Church must rise - with compassion, generosity, and divine courage.

“Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, We are witnessing in our time the devastating consequences of war. The children of Ukraine - innocent, vulnerable, wounded in soul and spirit - are in need of our Christian witness, our compassion, our action - stated Archbishop Daniel.

Let us continue to open our hearts, our homes, and yes - our “earthly treasuries” for the sake of the least among us.

This is not just humanitarianism. This is holiness. This is not just charity. This is Christianity.

Let us be the hands of Christ in a time of destruction.

Let us offer light in the deepest night.

Let us not grow weary in doing good - for in due season, we shall reap a harvest of joy.”

With each donation, with every prayer offered and parcel delivered, the faithful proclaim that God’s love is stronger than war, that Christ’s light cannot be extinguished, and that every orphaned child in Ukraine is our child too.

Every act matters. Every dollar is a loaf of bread. Every prayer is a shield. Every trip, every item, every volunteer - is a miracle in motion.

In the face of war, let the Church be the face of Christ.

Join us. Pray with us. Give with us. Let mercy continue.

For in these small acts, eternity is found.

LOVE IS AN ACTION! Let us act now.