Keeping Savanna company

Ellen and I came down to Katie & Savanna's this morning to be with Savanna while Katie and Brendon enjoy a day-trip to NYC as a treat for Brendon for his Birthday, which was on Monday (he turned 17). Monday was also the anniversary of the birth and death of Frederick B. Tolles, Ellen's father (born April 18, 1915; died April 18, 1975). Katie and Brendon left early this morning and took the train to NYC. They'll get back late, late tonight. At the moment, I am with Savanna while Ellen is with Tamar - Tamar has a hair-dresser's appointment and needed a ride. It's a beautiful day, sunny and a bit on the cool side. I just had a nice walk - there is an untraveled road nearby called Leonard Road that makes a nice place to walk. I've been working on the service for next Sunday which I am leading at Dummerston. April 24th is Easter Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox churches, and I will be making that my theme and connecting in spirit with the people of Ukraine who will be observing Easter in the midst of death and destruction. I have never experienced Easter under conditions like Ukraine is expriencing right now and I can only try to imagine what that is like. Are some churches able to hold services? Will Easter bring hope? Or will despair be so powerful that it will crush all hope and faith? I'm thinking about those trapped in Mariupul, Ukraine. A press-release from the Vatican says, "Russia gave an Easter deadline for their (Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupul) surrender, saying those who put down their weapons were "guaranteed to keep their lives." However, major General Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman, warned that "All those who will continue resistance will be destroyed."." The same release said that people could be seen praying in damaged and even destroyed churches in Ukraine. Here is a photo of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Mariupul:

I wonder if this church ediface has survived the bombing of Mariupul, which has destroyed much of the city? The decision of the Ukrainian Orthodox church three years ago to separate from the Moscow Patriarchate and become an "autocephalous" church angered Putin and the Russian Orthodox leaders and is thought to be part of the reason Putin has invaded Ukraine. So the proclamation of the Easter message is complicated by the politics of the church.

Ukrainian church leaders meeeting in December, 2018, to separate from the Moscow Patriarchate. But towering above all of this is the image of "Christ Pantocrator" (Christ the All-Powerful), which graces the dome of most Orthodox churches.

Will this image and what it represents survive?