The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, has addressed Ukrainians in connection with the second anniversary since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.
“Today marks two years since the Russian authorities launched a large-scale military invasion of the territory of our Motherland. Witnesses and victims of the consequences of this sinful act are all our compatriots, into whose homes this terrible war has come, bringing great grief, full of tears and suffering, horror and despair, but most importantly and most terrifyingly – taking away God-given life”, – his Beatitude said.
He added that “from the first minutes of that terrible February morning two years ago, Ukrainians made a responsible and sacrificial decision to defend their country from an insidious enemy, worthily defending the right to a free life for their country.”
“With great respect we thank today all servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! The feat of each and every one of them is an invaluable contribution to the victory over the enemy. From the very beginning of the war, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church blesses its faithful to defend the Motherland and calls for special prayer for Ukraine, for all those affected by the war and, of course, for the soldiers, because it is they who, according to the words of St. John Chrysostom, are the bulwark that is placed in front to protect the tranquility of those inside”, – the Primate noted.
Metropolitan Onufry assured that today the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “once again testifies and reminds of its love for the Ukrainian people and land, even if many prefer not to notice it. Our Church supports our state and our people by word and deed, by daily prayers, by labor, by the defense of the country, to which our faithful make efforts. We do it not to please someone or to prove something to someone. We do it because the duty to defend the homeland is one of the important principles in the life of a Christian. We must be worthy citizens of the earthly kingdom in order to become equally worthy citizens for the kingdom of heaven.”
“At the same time, we have no moral right to keep silent also about those negative things that are happening today in the internal life of our country, namely in its religious sphere, and are harmful to the state. I believe that life itself testifies to the fallacy of the religious policy that has been conducted so far and directed against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Division, inter-confessional hostility, quarrels, conflicts between loved ones and in society as a whole, disappointment, disbelief and demotivation of people, material for Russian propaganda – these are the fruits of this policy. I am convinced that this religious policy should be reconsidered, because it has not brought anything constructive and positive, except problems for our people both inside and outside the country”, – said His Beatitude.
The Primate noted that “the war, unfortunately, continues and, from a human point of view, there is no end to it yet. Therefore, at this time, when we receive terrible news from the front, we should remember that two years ago it was our unity, the unity of all Ukrainians, that gave us the strength to withstand, when almost no one in the world, except us, believed that our Armed Forces were capable of fighting back the Russian army.
“Today, more than ever before, we desperately need internal solidarization of society and the realization that it is in unity that our strength lies. The horror that the war has brought us will not break our society if each of us works for unity and looks for ways to be together and not to do anything that would destroy this unity. In this difficult period, I call on all of us to be united in a common desire for a spiritual, free and constructive future for our Ukraine. And may the Lord help us in this!”, – Metropolitan Onufry said.
Recall, earlier we reported that on February 24, 2024, on the second anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, in all churches and monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be held prayer services “for peace in Ukraine, for the defenders of our state, as well as memorial services for those who died and died during this war”.
