Metropolitan Augustine of Bila Tserkva, head of the military department of the UOC, addressed the faithful on the occasion of the anniversary of the start of the full-scale attack of the Russian Federation on Ukraine. This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.
“Now it is a year since the Russian Federation launched a full-scale military aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Thousands of killed and maimed compatriots, hundreds of thousands of broken lives, many orphans and half-orphans, millions of internally displaced persons, hundreds of destroyed settlements, thousands of destroyed houses, nationwide misfortune, grief and tears – these are the consequences of the treacherous war waged against us by a neighboring state,” – noted the bishop.
He also added that true Christians “cannot accept, approve and support aggressive wars. At the same time, the Holy Church has always blessed and continues to bless the faithful for the defense of their land, their homeland.”
“During this war, the Ukrainian people, with God’s help, proved their ability to give a proper rebuff to the military aggressor. The Armed Forces of Ukraine defended the capital of our state, Kyiv, from the invaders, expelled the enemy from the north, carried out successful offensive operations in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions,” said Metropolitan Augustine.
The bishop called “for these victories and for all the mercies of God” to us, sinners, “to sincerely thank God. After all, according to the words of St. John Chrysostom, If we thank God for the good, then it will multiply, and when we give thanks for the evil, it will stop. So, let the first words in the morning of each of us be: “Glory to You, God, glory to you!”. Not condemnation, not malice, not hatred, not exaltation of any mortal person or something earthly, but an expression of glory and gratitude to God will help our courageous soldiers and our people in protecting their native land, defeating the enemy and complete and final liberation from Russian occupation “.
The head of the military department of the UOC reminded that victory is not given for free and painlessly. “Everything that has already been done and completed over the year was obtained at the cost of thousands of lives of our defenders and civilians. First of all, we must remember those who gave their lives for the defense of the Motherland, and constantly prayerfully remember them. These days, in all churches and monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, sincere prayers are offered for the repose of the souls of those who fell on the battlefield and died from their wounds and died from torture in captivity of our defenders and defenders. May the Lord instill their souls in the dwellings of the righteous! Kingdom of Heaven and eternal memory to all of them!”
Finally, the bishop urged us to tirelessly turn to the Lord God and place our hopes on Him; lift up your heartfelt prayers to His Most Pure Mother – the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as to all the saints who have become famous on our earth; regularly visit holy temples, properly approach the Holy Mysteries; to sincerely pray “for our God-preserved Power – Ukraine and its army, for all the hard-working and peace-loving people of Ukraine, all the working and burdened, for those near and far, for admonishing enemies and peace on our land.”
“May God bless you and, with his indescribable mercy, cover us all from all kinds of evil, and also grant our Ukraine victory and a quiet and peaceful life in piety and purity!” Metropolitan Augustine emphasized.
