Primate of the UOC Metropolitan Onuphrius called for prayer and unity on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion

The Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has published an address by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his message, the Primate of the UOC urged the faithful to pray intensely for the long-awaited peace, unity and defense of the Motherland, emphasizing the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people and the unwavering support of the Church.

Metropolitan Onuphrius noted that for four years the Ukrainian land has been «enduring the horrors of wartime, daily losing civilians and selfless defenders and protectors.» He called on all believers on the National Day of Prayer to turn with special concern to the Lord, so that He bless Ukraine with long-awaited peace, through which the fruit of righteousness is sown in the world.

In his address, the Primate of the UOC expressed the united expectation of the Ukrainian people: the restoration of a peaceful and just life, as well as the return home of relatives and friends. Special prayers were offered for servicemen, medics, power engineers and workers of rescue services, who «bear a great feat of love for their fellow citizens, setting an example of courage and sacrifice».

Following the words of Blessed Augustine about the need to love first of all God, then the Fatherland, and then relatives and all other people, the clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church remain close to the many millions of people of Ukraine both in the country and abroad. The Church actively preaches love and mutual understanding, carries out a variety of humanitarian missions and charitable actions aimed at supporting servicemen and Ukrainians who find themselves in difficult conditions of war. «The fullness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church offers prayers to the Heavenly Father with exceptional reverence, placing sincere hope in Him and asking for the well-being of every Ukrainian,» Metropolitan Onuphrius emphasized.

At the conclusion of his address, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius urged: «Let our prayers to the Lord today be a testimony of our sincere trust in Him, love for our compatriots and all those who are working to preserve the unity of spirit in the union of peace and to stop the terrible bloodshed from which the blessed Ukrainian land — our common home — is now suffering. Let hope not leave us, let despondency not enter our hearts, let us work together further, let us defend our Motherland, let us cherish our internal unity and the Lord will not abandon us».

We shall remind you that earlier Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol said that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been constantly interacting with the AFU soldiers since 2014, when the ATO was proclaimed in Ukraine. The hierarch noted that the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church pray for the living and funeral services for the fallen military personnel, as this is the duty of a Christian.