Lent is time of repentance when we learn to win, - His Beatitude Sviatoslav on Forgiveness Sunday

“From the spiritual point of view, says the Major Archbishop, we can say that Lent is a struggle, even a war." It is a struggle between good and evil, a fight for what is real and does not pass. The field of struggle, battle during Lent is the inner world of man, particularly, his thoughts, plans, intentions and attitude to God, himself and the outside world”, the preacher explained.

"What does it take to win a war?" What does it take to destroy an enemy and defeat evil? -  the Head of the Church asks and answers: - The Lord gives us weapons that can surprise us. God says that the secret of victory is forgiveness.

His Beatitude Sviatoslav points out that it is odd to think of forgiveness during war, so he emphasizes that today's Gospel tells us not so much about man's forgiveness as the key to victory over the devil, but about God's forgiveness. According to him, it means that we can defeat the devil, war and all evil only if we allow God to forgive us.

"Therefore, the time of Lent is a time of repentance in which we open our hearts to God's mercy," the preacher emphasizes.

According to him, the desire to forgive everyone who owed us is the position of the winner. Today, the most important treasure we need as a nation is the treasure of the victory of good over evil. This should be the greatest possession in our hearts.

“Today we ask: Lord, give us the weapons with which we can defeat the devil and all his angels. Give us the weapon with which we can win not only in the war, but defeat the war itself and all those who caused it and brought it to the land of Ukraine. Today we especially pray for our army. For those who truly defeated the enemy on the battlefield of their own hearts. It is out of love for their homeland that they defeat those who attack us”, the Father and Head of the UGCC said.

The UGCC Department for Information