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June 5, 2023By Gina Christian, OSV News
JENKINTOWN, Pa. (OSV News) -- Amid the war in Ukraine, Basilian sisters strive "to be a praying, healing and life-giving presence in this world," Mother Marcela Runcan, general superior, told OSV News.
Based at the order's generalate in Rome, Mother Marcela, accompanied by Basilian Sister Emanujila Vishka, journeyed to the U.S. in late May for visits with sisters as well as meetings with Archbishop Borys Gudziak, metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S. The two spoke with OSV News at the order's Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.
The order traces its roots to the fourth century, when St. Basil the Great -- regarded as the father of Eastern Christian monasticism -- and his sister St. Macrina (whose life of prayer and service inspired her brother) established monastic communities in Asia Minor.
Over time, the Basilian rule of monastic life expanded into the Slavic countries of central and eastern Europe. Basilian sisters have lived in what is now the modern-day nation of Ukraine since at least the 11th century, retaining their Byzantine Catholic heritage as their order expanded throughout the world.
Today, some 400 Basilian sisters on three continents continue to "serve the needs of the church" in each country they call home, said Mother Marcela -- and in Ukraine, about 150 sisters are "(Christ's) praying presence" as that nation marks more than 15 months of a full-scale invasion by Russia, continuing attacks launched in 2014.
"They are present there with their life, with their prayer, with their activities, serving the people that need their help," she said.
"They want to be with their people," Sister Emanujila told OSV News. "They feel that they are needed there. Even when we or sisters from other countries offered, 'Please come (to us) to be safe,' they refused to come. They said, 'We want to be with where we are needed, with those who are in danger, who are suffering.'"
Two sisters have chosen to remain in the city of Zaporizhzhia, just miles from Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear plant in Europe. Occupied by Russian troops since March 2022, the plant has seen multiple losses of power and safety violations, creating what International Atomic Energy Agency director Raffaele Grossi has called an "extremely fragile and dangerous" situation.
The Zaporizhzhia sisters aid both civilians and the military, providing food, medication and spiritual support, said Mother Marcela and Sister Emanujila.
"They are very, very active," said Sister Emanujila. "And I think they are tired; you can see that. But Sister Lucia (Murashko) says, 'We don't have time (to be tired). We can't. It's impossible for us to stop. We have to continue to help.'"
Basilian sisters in other nations have rallied to support the sisters in Ukraine, said Mother Marcela, who in the midst of the crisis -- which has reduced the number of vocations from Ukraine -- remains focused as well on the long-term growth of her congregation.
Approximately 50 of the sisters, including Sister Lucia Murashko, attended a recent leadership course by Mother Marcela in her native Romania, learning "to be a leader in times of transformation, and times that are uncertain," said Sister Emanujila.
Among the lessons was how to "accept vulnerability," Sister Emanujila said.
"Being a leader does not mean that you are in charge of everything and control everything," she said, admitting the realization brought "relief" to the sisters.
In the course, Mother Marcela also stressed the need for "appreciative inquiry."
"(It means) to not only ask where is the problem and how can I fix it ... but to really see the situation, and to see the possibilities," said Sister Emanujila. "To see what this community and these circumstances can give you, and where there is a possibility to do something great. "
In wartime, appreciative inquiry is both "challenging and life-giving," she said. "I see good things -- not about the killing, of course, but I see how people are really showing heroic love."
Mother Marcela said she envisions the order as being "without borders," one that touches "other countries, other cultures" with the same spirit that led St. Basil and St. Macrina.
"I would like for sisters to live with joy their vocation -- to feel that this is really their vocation, and to share with others this life," she said.