Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich): The Church does not need salvation; it is in the Church that we ourselves are saved

In today’s world, characterized by an atmosphere of chaos, uncertainty, and global social upheaval, it is important for people of faith to maintain spiritual stability. Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich), a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, called on Christians to rely on the unshakable foundations of church life—the Sacraments, Holy Scripture, and tradition—which remain an island of stability amid the changing landscape of reality.

Reflecting on how the Church should respond to contemporary challenges, His Eminence notes that the Holy Church is divine by its very nature and does not require protection through human means, since it is precisely within the Church that believers find salvation. There are no universal methods for countering external pressure: depending on the situation, a Christian may be called upon to publicly denounce evil, to silently distance themselves from lawlessness, or to exercise patience for the sake of unity and canonical order.

“The measure of each person’s patience is determined by their conscience; it is the main barometer and the voice of self-reproach,” emphasizes Metropolitan Anthony. The central criterion for any Christian’s actions is the purity of intentions, dictated by love for God, rather than personal gain or worldly interests. During times of trial, believers are advised to immerse themselves in prayer and the building of the soul’s “inner temple,” where true spiritual service takes place.

Furthermore, an important aspect of spiritual life is the ability to respond appropriately to unavoidable circumstances. According to the author, the desire to change what is beyond one’s control can be a sign of pride. Ultimately, a believer is called to perceive everything that happens as part of God’s Providence, aimed at the salvation of the soul, while maintaining inner peace and filling the surrounding space with love, not hatred.