Head of UGCC: The Risen Christ shows that the war against Ukraine will not last forever, because a lie never has the final word

With the Primate the Divine Liturgy celebrated:  Bishop Vitaliy Kryvytsky, the ruling bishop of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr diocese of the RCC in Ukraine, Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, the secretary of the Synod of the UGCC, Bishop Venedikt Aleksiychuk, the ruling bishopric of the diocese of St. Nicholas with the seat in Chicago, also Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, and Bishop Josyph Milian, Assistant Bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy.

The Liturgy was also attended by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and his wife Maryna, the Minister of Culture Yevhen Nyschuk, the Minister of Education and Science Lilia Hrynevych, and Mrs. Silvia Josefina Cortés Martín, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine.

The Primate emphasized that we came to meet between us the true sun - the Savior resurrected in the glory, Whose power had replaced the then empire that killed, took away the dignity of what they thought was a human, and encountered God Himself. This truth about the resurrection of Christ is something that changes, broadens the horizons,and gives hope to man of all times and all peoples.

"That is why it is so important for us today to feel and understand that the truth about the Resurrection of Christ is life-giving," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

When we congratulate someone with the words "Christ is Risen," in response we hear "Truly, He is Risen!" And in Him human life gains a completely different meaning. When we meet the Risen One, we realize that true human life is something much larger than this earthly life. We see that there are no hopeless situations. After death comes the resurrection. Just as after a night in the light of the rising sun comes a new day, a new life, the resurrected Christ comes to give us life," explained the Head of the Church.

It seems, said the preacher, that today the world lives at the time of post-truth. Our world, even a modern culture, is like the night of confusion experienced by the disciples after Christ was crucified and put in the grave.

"At times we even think: is it worth looking for the truth ?! - the Head of the Church rhetorically asks. - Perhaps it's easier to live without truth, why fight for it, why do we need it today? But the Myrrh-bearing Women tell us that every person in the deepest corner of his heart has something that the Lord God has given her as an inner compass, which will always push and lead a person to seek the truth."

And this inner sanctuary of a person, believes the spiritual leader of Ukrainians, is a human conscience. It will wake you up, it will push you to seek the truth. It will remind you that every person has a holy duty to seek the truth, and find and follow it. For if you follow this path of truth, the army will escape, the stone will shake, and the risen Christ will show that the truth needs, perhaps not so much to be defended as to be testified. For the truth has its own strength - such force as the light has over darkness.

"How many lies today, as weapons, are being used against Ukraine. Various modern technologies steal the truth about a person to destroy her present-day life. During the recent election, we have been told a lot of lies that aimed at stealing our future," said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

According to him, today we meet the risen Christ according to the ancient tradition which the UGCC has kept - at the moment when the sun rises, we sing to Him: You are our sun of truth, which illuminates our lives!

"If there is an exit from a sealed and guarded tomb, then we have hope. May this year's Easter holiday be a testimony and a source of hope for our people," wished the Head of the UGCC.

Department of Information of the UGCC