"Now is the time of confession and spiritual struggle," — Metropolitan Luka on the current state of the Church

Metropolitan Luka of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol emphasized that now is a special time — a time of confession and spiritual struggle. In these conditions, the true gifts of God are revealed not through supernatural abilities, but in the strength to forgive enemies, to pray when there is no strength or desire, and to remain faithful to the canonical Church despite pressure and persecution. This is a time when remaining in the Church means valuing the soul above bodily well-being and having unwavering spiritual priorities. His Eminence’s words were published on his Telegram channel.

«The fact that a person, despite the threat of being fired from work and media persecution, remains faithful to the canonical Church — isn’t this the gift of modern confession?» the hierarch noted, drawing attention to the spiritual resilience of believers in these difficult circumstances.

The hierarch also stressed the importance of the inner attitude: «Unfortunately, the modern person is oriented towards consumption rather than giving. ‘What will I get from this?’ is their main question. But first, one must learn to give, to think about what they can do for another.»

According to the metropolitan, selfishness and the pursuit of personal benefit lead to the decline of society. Those who seek only profit will not enter eternal joy, where there is no betrayal or flight. It is now that God is driving out of the Church those who sought only their own benefit, and only the spiritually mature and devoted will remain faithful.

Earlier we wrote that Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol addressed the congregation with a sermon in which he urged Christians not to lose faith in the face of persecution and injustice. The Archpastor emphasized that the hostility of the world to the Church is a confirmation of its truth, and patience in persecution is an integral part of the cross of everyone who follows Christ.