From the Head of the UGCC on Easter: Christ is Risen! We are from Ukraine!

“That is why we say today: Christ is Risen! We are from Ukraine!”- added the Head of the Church.

In his homily to the faithful, His Beatitude Sviatoslav described the circumstances in which Ukraine is celebrating the greatest Christian holiday today: “above the valley of tears, which our Ukrainian land portrays today, the hymn of victory is heard from heaven: Christ is risen! Over the burned houses, over the burned cities and villages, the sky proclaims through its angel that Christ is risen! Over the burning Donbass and the South of Ukraine, where the war is waging now, where the positions of our soldiers are burning, the sky announces to Ukraine and the world: Christ is risen!

Today we are celebrating, he emphasizes, the greatest Christian holiday - the holiday of the victory of life over death, truth over mendacity, good over evil. 

This is the second month of this bloody war. “And a new victorious hymn was born. When we want to share joy of stopping our enemy we say: Good afternoon! We are from Ukraine! And today we want to say to the whole world: Christ is risen! We are from Ukraine!” - said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in the homily and then repeated it in his daily address.

The Primate noted that the celebration of Easter in Kyiv, in the Patriarchal Cathedral, is a miracle of God, which we could not even hope for 60 days ago.

“We see how today the Resurrection of Christ turns into strength, hope, joy of those who defend Ukraine, fight and pray for its victory”, the spiritual leader said.

We know, he says, that our enemy on these Easter holidays is writing sarcastically “Christ is risen!” on the weapons of murder - bombs, missiles and shells, whereas we write these words on Easter eggs, on Easter bread, put in a basket and bless. And we will say to everyone, including our enemy: “Christ is risen! We are from Ukraine!” the preacher emphasized.

The Head of the Church said that he had been moved by reading a prayer that a soldier wrote on his helmet: “God, if I am killed on the battlefield, let me in heaven, because I have already been to hell.”

Celebrating this Pascha, we are asking Him: resurrect, our Savior, turn our tears of sorrow into tears of joy! Resurrect Ukraine, grant us victory, grant us the opportunity to joyfully celebrate and live not only on Easter day, but every day! “And today our Savior comes to take us by the hand and get us out of the hell into which our enemy wants to drive us in,” says the Primate.

The spiritual leader especially prayed for the Ukrainian army: “I congratulate our soldiers, our army with this victorious salutation “Christ is risen!”. Thank to you, our dear military brothers and sisters, today we celebrate Easter in Kyiv and other cities and villages of Ukraine.”

Specially, His Beatitude Sviatoslav prayed for millions of refugees, for all those in the occupied territories, for those who are unable to sit down to the festive table, for all those wounded and injured in the russian war against Ukraine.

“A heartfelt prayer goes for the defenders and children of Mariupol. There, in the cellars of Azovstal, there are children who have not seen the sun for a month and a half ... "- he added.

“Overcome sadness with Easter joy. In this way you will forge victory in your heart, in your home, in your family”, the Primate emphasized.

The UGCC Department for Information