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Local Ukrainian Community Offers Thoughts, Prays After Violent Week In Ukraine

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A violent week and the continuing uncertainty and unrest in Ukraine was on the minds of those attending services on Sunday at a Northern Liberties church.

The clergy at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception asked the congregation to include the people of Ukraine in their prayers.

"It's a loss of life that we need to pray for. We also need to pray for peace in Ukraine," said Subdeacon Roman Oprysk. "Any person that has lost their life is lost even to the Ukrainian community that is maybe, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 miles away from them."

Oprysk has family in Ukraine, not in Kiev, he said, but near other places where protests remained peaceful. And he expressed disappointment that any life had to be lost.

"Violence really doesn't get anywhere," Oprysk said. "It only gets people hurt. I wish that the people in Ukraine will just come to their senses and speak this out."

Oprysk said he's disheartened that many died and hundreds more were injured. Now, he's cautiously optimistic that peace will follow.

"It seems that it is going in that direction," he said, "but only time will tell."

And Larissa from Rockledge, who has family in Ukraine, is also hopeful the bloodshed ends and the protestors efforts lead to a united country.

"They want to join the European Union, they want to be accepted by America and Europe and that's what we're all hoping for. No more killing hopefully," she said. "I hope that everybody joins everybody else. We're all one. We're all one. All of us."

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