Head of the UGCC in the 131 st Week of the War: A Priest, Like a Captain, is the Last to Disembark
“It deeply pains us to leave our churches alongside our people, but we look to the future with hope.” These were the words of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, on the 131 st week of the great sacrilegious war that the Russian aggressor has brought to peaceful Ukrainian land.
Evacuation in Pokrovsk. Photo by Radio Liberty
The Primate highlighted that this week has been notably marked by the destruction of churches in our homeland. According to recent statements from the Office of the President, more than 630 religious buildings of various denominations have already been destroyed in Ukraine. Tragically, this number continues to rise each day.
He emphasized that it is no coincidence the enemy seeks to destroy religious centers in Ukraine, as they—the church and the congregation of believers—serve as the last hope and support for Ukrainians today.
The Head of the Church noted that Ukrainian society has clearly witnessed the fundamental role that the church, the priest, and the church community play in the life of the long-suffering Ukrainian people, particularly in the midst of this brutal war.
This week, he shared, we were forced to begin evacuating our community from the city of Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region. State authorities also announced the forced evacuation of the population from the city of Pokrovsk.
“The harsh reality is that when the Russian occupiers approach a settlement, they completely destroy it. It’s like a wall of fire that engulfs everything. No one can survive in such conditions. The enemy does not liberate anything, despite its claims, but instead follows a scorched earth policy,” added His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The priest is faced with complex questions about what to do in such circumstances: should he leave his church, his city, his village, or should he stay to face certain death?
“A priest,” the Primate emphasizes, “is like a captain, the last one to disembark. Today, I can testify that our priests treat their people as true shepherds. This is why the trust of Ukrainians, regardless of denomination, in the priests, monks, and nuns of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is growing.”
The UGCC Department for Information
