"I do not worship victory, but I honor it, because behind it stands the immortal feat of my ancestors," — hierarch of the UOC

In his address to the faithful, Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia expressed deep condemnation of the mockery of the memory of the victory in World War II, which has spread in recent years. The hierarch emphasized that the term “victory mania,” used to devalue the national memory, is not only an insult but an attempt to eradicate the holy feeling of gratitude from the hearts of the people. The text of the address was published on the bishop’s Telegram channel.

“This is nothing more than mockery of pain, history, and victims,” emphasized the metropolitan. He noted that the victory in the war is not just a “triumph,” but a resurrection of the nation after a terrible tragedy. According to him, some may argue that there were excesses and showiness in the past, but that is no reason to devalue the entire memory of this history.

“I do not idealize war. My two grandfathers fought, and they told me about the horrors of the war. I do not worship victory. But I honor it, because behind it stands the immortal feat of my ancestors,” Metropolitan Luke emphasized.

He also pointed out the importance of preserving the memory of the feats of ancestors as the foundation of national unity. As Saint Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) said, “Only those who are incapable of a feat mock the feat.”

The metropolitan stressed that those who propagate terms like “victory mania” are not seeking truth but are trying to undermine the unity of the people and make us doubt our heroes and ancestors. According to him, it is unacceptable to devalue the memory of the fallen and “repay them with mockery.” In his sermon, he called for prayers for those who have lost their way but made it clear that we should not accept sacrilege as the norm.

“As long as the people thank their dead, they are alive. When they begin to mock them, they are already spiritually dead,” the metropolitan recalled the words of Saint Nicholas of Serbia.

In concluding his address, Metropolitan Luke emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the feats of ancestors, as history is not just facts but an inseparable part of the identity and spiritual health of the nation. “At the end of times, we will not be asked about the words of the mockers, but we will be asked, ‘Did you preserve what was given to you?'” he said.

Earlier, the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, commented on the interference of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the affairs of other Local Churches. The bishop noted that by such actions, the head of Phanar contributes to the division of the Orthodox world. He spoke about this during his report at the international conference “The Patriarchate of Constantinople as a tool of politics: the destructive activities of Patriarch Bartholomew”, held in Belgrade on March 26, 2025.