Video-message of the Head of the UGCC on the 152nd Week of Full-Scale War, January 12, 2025
Christ Has Born!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
We continue to count the days and weeks of this vicious war. Today marks the 152nd week since the Russian occupiers launched their full-scale invasion of peaceful Ukrainian land.
This week our cities and villages shook again. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have been heroically holding back heavy assaults and attacks by Russian troops utilizing various types of weapons along the entire front line. Our peaceful towns and villages continue to suffer as the Russians disregard the customs of war.
We are grateful to the Holy Father Francis for mentioning Ukraine once again during his meeting with the diplomatic corps, stating it is unacceptable to destroy the infrastructure of our country’s cities and villages and bomb civilians. As the Pope spoke these words, the Russians committed another atrocity in Zaporizhzhia, targeting a residential area with guided bombs. As of today, 13 people are reported to have been killed and about 120 people sustained injuries of varying severity as a result of this strike. It is unacceptable to kill civilians. May these words resonate with the conscience of every person of goodwill around the world.
Celebrating the Theophany of the Lord last week, we felt that God is with us. He descended not only once into the Jordan, but also into the Ukrainian Dnipro River, pouring out God’s love upon our people—a love brought from the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why we are now testifying, declaring it to the whole world: Ukraine stands, Ukraine fights, Ukraine prays!
Another powerful voice of Ukraine’s civil society has been heard around the world. Intellectuals, public figures, philosophers and theologians, and cultural workers have addressed the international community with an open letter on a just end to the war. The document has a profound title — “Do not appease evil”—because if one attempts to appease or reconcile with evil, it tends to grow, become even more aggressive, destructive, and deadly.
This appeal by representatives of civil society and the churches of Ukraine is related to our hope that this year we can put an end to this war. However, there are many illusions in the world regarding how this should be achieved. Therefore, Ukrainian intellectuals, guided by moral principles, argue that it is impossible to find a solution or a path for a just and sustainable peace without addressing the causes of the war.
Today we want the whole world to hear the voice of Ukraine, in particular, that there is no need to convince our people, our government, of the need to trade our territories. This letter clearly states that they bear no importance to Russia, as it has plenty of them. Occupying Ukrainian territories, it mercilessly destroys them, waging a scorched earth war. Instead, the enemy seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of each state. Therefore, it will be the wrong way to stop this evil if you allow it to penetrate your minds—it will destroy your political system, your economy with new forms of corruption, and intervene militarily in hundreds of conflicts worldwide. We should not appease evil—it must be stopped. Together we can and must do it.
This Sunday together with other local churches we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God. In accordance with the liturgical rhythm of the Byzantine Church, on the Sunday after Theophany, we contemplate Jesus Christ, who comes out with a public sermon after his baptism in the Jordan River and forty days of fasting in the desert. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” is the heart of the good news proclaimed by our Lord and Savior.
This Sunday reminds Christians of the essential duty to experience reading and living God’s word. I appeal, specifically, to our faithful to not only have a copy of the Holy Scriptures in their families, but to read them daily. When we open the sacred text and reflect on it within the context of our personal, family, and national lives.
The teacher of the Western Church, St. Irenaeus, said that ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. May God’s word, especially the word of the Holy Gospels, strengthen us and give us the opportunity to hear it and live it every day.
O God, bless Ukraine, speak to us, strengthening our hope, bless our homeland, our army, our people with your just, heavenly peace.
The blessing of the Lord be upon you, through His grace and love for mankind, always, now and forever, and for the ages of ages. Amen.
Christ Has Born! Glorify Him!
