From the Head of the UGCC on the 51st day of the war: Life in truth is the power that makes us invincible

Friday, 15 April 2022, 22:27

Truth has its own power, so it does not need to be explained and defended, it must be witnessed. The truth must be told to the world, and it will prevail just as light conquers darkness. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said in his daily address on the 51st day of Russia's war against Ukraine.

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“Ukraine is on fire. The lines of fire are getting wider and scarier. Ukraine is on fire from Kharkiv to Mariupol in the east and from Mariupol to Mykolayiv in the south. Guns are firing, bombs, missiles and rockets are falling on the heads of civilians. Millions of people have already fled their homes. Unfortunately, the war continues, and we understand less and less how it will develop. Everyone expects another great military confrontation, but Ukraine is praying for victory. Ukraine prays and fights for a just peace. The Ukrainian army heroically, at the cost of its own life, protects the lives of peaceful people and the future of Ukraine and Europe”, stated the Head of the UGCC.

In the midst of this terrible pain, he says, we still look into the light of God's truth because we feel we are dying for it. This truth of God gives meaning to our struggle.

The Head of the Church offered to reflect on the Eighth Commandment of God, which protects human life in truth: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." According to him, this commandment of God follows from the fundamental, deep vocation of God's people to be witnesses of the one and true God.

The Father and Head of the UGCC emphasized that living in truth about God and neighbor is the core, the main element of witness. He explained that this commandment of God protects the dignity of a person who has the right to a good name, to a good reputation, to respect his dignity and the truth about his life and deeds.

“During the war, the first victim is always the truth. We know that Christ Himself said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Therefore, a Christian who lives in truth in the conditions of war and speaks the truth about what he has seen and experienced, thus honors the Lord himself and our Savior Jesus Christ”, His Beatitude Sviatoslav is convinced.

We see, says the bishop, that the great war that is being fought in Ukraine today is unparalleled in its scale and intensity since the Second World War. This is a hybrid war. It aims to humiliate the enemy, first of all by despising him with falsehood.

“The great war today is connected with a great lie. And we, as Christians, are called to live in the truth and to witness to it even when this truth is not beneficial to someone. In this way we accomplish the prophetic mission of the Christian and the Church. When we bear witness to the truth, we defend the truth, even our ecclesiastical and liturgical gestures, by which we reveal to the world our faith, by which we venerate the cross of the Lord. The truth about man is inextricably linked with the truth of the Christian witness today”, the Head of the UGCC underlined.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked all those who have the courage to testify to the truth about the suffering of Ukrainian people. “I want to thank all the journalists who are coming to Ukraine these days to show the world the cruel, difficult truth about the crimes of Russians on our land. Many of them were killed and wounded. May the Lord God repay a hundredfold to all media workers who help a modern man to know the truth, hence follow it”, he said.

The Primate added: “Today I especially want to thank all the witnesses of Russian crimes who have the courage to testify and speak about it”.

The UGCC Department of Information