Our boys and girls in Bakhmut and Avdiivka ask to pray for them, — Head of the UGCC on the 285th day of the war
During the day yesterday and the last night became like a hell to some cities and villages of Ukraine. The peak of the military confrontation is happening around the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Our boys and girls are asking to pray for them. The situation is critical. It is recognized by the commanders of all military and state authorities. And therefore, our army in this area needs our attention, prayer, and help. The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, said in his daily military address on the 285th day of russia’s war against Ukraine.
All of Ukraine, the bishop added, lives in constant danger of new massive strikes by the Russians on critical infrastructure. “The enemy is deliberately threatening to scare us,” stated the Head of the Church. — However, Ukraine’s ‘points of invincibility’ have become a space of solidarity and mutual assistance. This way, we save each other, strengthen our Motherland, and help each other endure this unequal battle. And this morning, we can again thank God and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for being alive. We can say: Ukraine stands! Ukraine is fighting! Ukraine is praying!”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav continued reflecting on how to take care of the future of Ukraine and our children in such dramatic circumstances. In particular, he drew attention to the directors of educational institutions, who bore the sole responsibility for organizing the educational process in the field during the war.
The Head of the UGCC thanked those school principals and directors of educational institutions who serve Ukrainian schoolchildren and Ukraine with heroic responsibility and self-sacrifice.
The Primate called on all teachers and parents to support the heads of Ukrainian educational institutions and urged them to assist their colleagues. “All the challenges that the war brought to the Ukrainian school can be overcome only by joint efforts,” the Head of the UGCC is convinced.
“Thank you to those administrators who take care of the organization of bomb shelters, warmth, and safety of our children during air raids in educational institutions. We know how difficult it is today to obtain the necessary goods so that no one lacks anything. And therefore, our special gratitude, support, and prayer to you, leaders of educational institutions,” the archbishop added.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav asserted with regret that the Russian occupiers were conducting systematic tactics and policies of dehumanizing Ukraine and Ukrainian lands, particularly in those regions where they could occupy some part. According to today’s reports, two million and eight hundred thousand Ukrainians were forcibly deported and expelled from their cities and villages that came under occupation. And that part of Ukraine, which today is under the control of the Ukrainian authorities, suffers from the systematic destruction of infrastructure, which is carried out to demoralize people and force them to leave their settlements.
“Let us pray today for our brothers and sisters who love their Motherland and do everything to stay in their village and city. And we all want to rush to their aid. We love Ukraine together! Let us not run to leave it but help each other so that this tactic of dehumanizing Ukraine fails and collapses entirely, — the Head of the UGCC encouraged and added: — Since, we love Ukraine not with words only, but with our lives, actions, and testimony.”
The UGCC Department for Information
