From the Head of the UGCC on Ukraine’s National Flag Day: Today Ukrainian flag is a symbol of freedom and peace
Today, protecting peace, our servicemen go into battle under the Ukrainian flag and sprinkle it with their blood. The blue and yellow flag flutters where there is peace. We know the cost of this peace today. That is why this flag is so precious to every Ukrainian. The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, emphasized during the daily military address on the 181 st day of Russia’s war against Ukraine, on the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine.
The Primate traditionally began his address with the morning military news, which reports that during the past day, the last night especially, active hostilities were taking place almost throughout the entire front line. According to morning reports, the fiercest combat is taking place in the Donetsk region. The enemy is attacking in the direction of Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Sloviansk. These nocturnal missile strikes have already become a regular, terrifying reality in this city. One third of all houses and infrastructure in Kharkiv have already been destroyed. The enemy is also relentlessly shelling the border areas of Chernihiv Oblast and Sumy Oblast.
Today, Ukrainians celebrate National Flag Day. Before the Independence Day of Ukraine, our blue and yellow flag is at the center of attention of the Ukrainian people. Especially during the war, this flag has become especially dear to the heart of every Ukrainian because it acquired some new, deeper meaning. Today, the Ukrainian flag is a symbol of freedom and peace,” the Head of the Church emphasized.
“You should have seen — says the Archbishop — how those of our brothers and sisters who visited the Russian occupation greeted the blue and yellow flag! Indeed, those who survived torture, humiliation, and the horrors of mass executions, did not hold back their emotions by seeing the Ukrainian flag because, for them, this flag means freedom and hope for life.”
According to him, when we Christians pray, stand in prayer for victory day and night, we see deep Christian symbolism in the colors of our flag. When we see blue above and yellow below, we experience them in a special way, praying “Our Father.”
“For us, this flag is like a symbol of the Lord’s prayer, which was left to all Christians by the Savior Jesus Christ. When we look into the blue sky, we hear the words: ‘Thy will be done, on earth as it is heaven.’ Looking at the yellow color, which symbolizes fields of Ukrainian wheat, we hear the words: ‘Give us our daily bread,’ the Primate stresses.
“Our nation is experiencing a special day today. We thank the Lord that this blue and yellow flag flutters proudly around our capital, which the enemy could not and will never be able to conquer,” the Father and Head of the Church points out.
And that is why we pray today: God, bless our land with Your peace! Let Your will be done, both in heaven and on earth! Your will is always good, salvation, freedom, mercy, love and peace. We raise a prayer to You from the earth, asking: “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
“O God, bless our land! God, bless our Motherland, its sons, and daughters who fight for peace and freedom! O God, listen to the prayers of millions of people who, with tears in their eyes day and night, beg You for an immediate end to this war, for victory over the unjust aggressor! God, bless Ukraine!” asks His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information
