In the face of war, we are united, and dividing society is a terrible sin against the people and Ukraine, - parishioners of the UOC Cathedral in Ternopil

On April 9, 2023, the Ternopil diocese of the UOC published an appeal by the clergy and laity of the UOC Cathedral in honor of the martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia of the city of Ternopil.

 

“The merciful God has given us sinners His gift of God – the holy church of Sts. mt. Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sophia — which has grown up before your eyes and has become the Holy Place of the Most High God, in which the grace of God lives for about 30 years and prayer sounds. And the earthly state of Ukraine has confirmed that this Holy Shrine of God is the temple of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” the address says at the beginning.

 

“The life of our Church and the Ternopil diocese and our temple is carried out on the basis of the highest Law of Ukraine — the Constitution, which legally fixed us as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We act in accordance with state acts and documents, the Charter of our Church and other legislative norms that have given us the right to fully fulfill our obligations to God and the state,” the believers emphasize in the document.

 

The appeal reminds that a prayer is always heard in the temple for an end to the war, for the integrity of the Ukrainian state, for the army, for all those suffering from the consequences of the war.

 

“In this we are united with all the people, with all religious denominations — we love our native land with all our hearts and with all our strength, deeds, we defend it as best we can,” the believers write.

 

Believers write that since the beginning of the war, a lot of humanitarian aid has been received from the Ternopil diocese for both military personnel and civilians.

 

“But we are forced to say about the alarming. Watching the aggressive actions of the Ternopil community towards us, we are alarmed with heartache by the division of the townspeople into the so-called «right» and «wrong». Therefore, we, the clergy of the diocese and the lay faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, appeal to you, our compatriots, no matter what denomination you belong to, with a request not to disunite in this difficult time for our Motherland, not to look for enemies where they really do not exist, but unite our efforts to bring victory over the enemy closer. In the Holy Gospel, Christ Himself warns of this: “Any kingdom divided by itself will become desolated … and will not stand … (Matt. 12:25),” the address says further.

 

“Our parents, brothers, sons and daughters, faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, at the turn of life and death protect the whole of Ukraine and you and me – and there, in a mortal struggle, standing side by side with brothers of different confessions and different beliefs. Are they separated, are they enemies to each other? And by what conscience, by what right do we want to further divide families, society and even the Church, being in peace and security in the Ternopil region? — ask the faithful of the cathedral.

The authors of the appeal are sure: “Today we must be together. Yes, we are all different, but in love for the Motherland, in the face of war, we are united and dividing society is a terrible sin against the people and Ukraine!”

 

Invoking the blessing of God on all, the clergy and laity of the Ternopil Cathedral recalled the words of the Apostle Paul: “Rejoice always in the Lord, and again I say: rejoice … in prayer and request with thanksgiving, open your desires to God, and the peace of God, which exceeds all reason, will save hearts your thoughts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus… and the God of peace will be with you” (Ph. 4:49).