From the Head of the UGCC: If conditions do not allow for going to Confession, one can receive forgiveness of sins through a perfect act of Contrition

This was the message of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, in his daily communication to the faithful and to people of good will on the 18^th day of the bloody war of Russia against Ukraine.

The Head of the Church mentioned that owing to the astonishing courage of our troops, Ukrainians have managed to stop the enemy in almost all directions. In Ukraine, we sense a temporary quiet lull, this Sunday in particular.

However, the nights are probably the most anxious in Ukraine, he noted. Because it is precisely at night that the enemy shells peaceful cities and inflicts irreparable damage to civil infrastructure, killing civilians.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that the enemy deploys various weapons which are banned by international conventions; this night in particular, phosphorus bombs were used in an attack on Popasna, causing horrific injuries to people.

“The night in Ukraine was anxious, it was tough. Yet morning came, Sunday morning, and we stand face to face before God, praying for Ukraine, for the Ukrainian army, for all those afflicted by this war. We pray for our enemies, who came to our land and are wreaking devastation, bringing fear, death, and enormous casualties,” His Beatitude stated. 

He pointed out that during Lent there is a special need for the Sacrament of Penance for our people.   

Since Lent is a time of repentance, it is a time when we hasten to this Sacrament of God's Mercy to repent of our sins and to receive forgiveness of our sins and transgressions from our loving God.

According to His Beatitude, all priests of the UGCC stand ready to minister to their people. They serve where they are: in the besieged territories, in captured cities. In all our cities and villages churches are open almost round-the-clock in order to serve the people.

The UGCC Department of Information