From the Head of the UGCC on the 85th day of the war: Today the whole world sees the true will of Ukraine – to be a free, independent state

The Primate noted that air strikes continue in different parts of Ukraine: Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolayiv, which would like to live a peaceful life.

“We especially pray for Mariupol, for those people who still need attention of the world community there. We pray for all those who are in the occupied Kherson, Melitopol and Berdyansk, in all cities and villages, which were cut off by the invaders from the body of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people”, said the Head of the UGCC.

We want to help all those who have suffered from this war, including those who have been forcibly displaced, those who have been away from home, and those who have been wounded. We pray for our soldiers who have been taken prisoners by the enemy.

But despite everything, he emphasizes, Ukraine is fighting, Ukraine is winning. “And today the whole world sees the real will of Ukraine - to be a free, independent state”, the spiritual leader emphasizes.

On this day, His Beatitude Sviatoslav reflected on another work of mercy toward our neighbor – to forgive offenses.

Any kind of evil, especially unjust one, affects us, says the Head of the Church, but the work of mercy teaches us to overcome evil with love. The work of mercy tells us that the Lord, who loves a man, ignores man's attitude toward Him. God's love is greater than sins and insults that a man can inflict on Him.

“God's love heals our sins, our hatred, the spiritual leader teaches. – When a person sins, insults the Lord, she hurts herself first. And God's mercy, on the contrary, saves her. When we treat our neighbors the same way the Lord treats us, we reveal His presence among us”.

To forgive offenses, says His Beatitude Sviatoslav, especially in personal relationships, means to overcome evil that another person could cause me. For it often happens that someone insulted me, but did not notice it. And the insult I carry in my heart to my neighbor oppresses me. 

“Thus, when I forgive offenses, I throw inner evil out of my own heart and offenses do not hurt me anymore. Moreover, by forgiving with our love, we destroy evil and sin. Therefore, let us not allow our insults destroy us from within. May our offenses disappear with the power of God's love that we can pass on to others,” the spiritual leader urged.

The UGCC Department for Information