Video-message of the Head of the UGCC on the 165th Week of Full-Scale War, April 13, 2025
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
Today marks the 165th week of the great war—a week once again filled with human casualties, fire, blood, and destruction across various parts of Ukraine.
Time and again we say: we thank the Lord God and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the gift of life, for the ability to speak to you, to praise the Lord, and to serve the needy and suffering in Ukraine.
Indeed, our defenders are shielding our cities and villages with their very bodies, even as the enemy intensifies its attacks. The north of Ukraine is ablaze. Our Commander-in-Chief has announced that the Russians have launched an offensive in the north, targeting the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
This week, Ukraine also buried the victims of a Russian war crime in Kryvyi Rih—the deadliest mass killing of children since the start of the war. A total of 20 people were killed, half of them children. Dozens more are wounded, many in serious condition.
Every night, our towns and villages face the threat of various weapons falling from the sky onto our peaceful homes. Once again this week, our golden city of Kyiv was set ablaze. And yet, even in these horrific circumstances, Ukrainians do not grow weary. Ukrainians organize. We somehow find new strength in solidarity, mutual support, and love. And today, once again, we declare to the whole world: Ukraine stands! Ukraine fights! Ukraine prays!
This week will likely be remembered by all of us as a week of progress—and also of a deepened realization of the Church—State partnership for the common good and for Ukraine’s victory.
It is essential for various Churches and religious organizations to feel that the Ukrainian authorities and representatives of state institutions truly wish to accurately interpret the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine regarding the separation of Church and State. The partnership model is the correct interpretation of Ukraine’s basic law. It is not isolation or confrontation between state bodies and Church organizations, nor is it about merging or nationalizing religious life in Ukraine—it is about partnership. A partnership of equal parties, willing to work together for the common good of Ukraine. And this partnership is evolving in different ways, resulting in a variety of legislative acts.
This partnership is, indeed, the key to unlocking new strength and renewed energy within Ukrainian society—so that together, we may work to save our country, to save lives in Ukraine, and eventually reflect together on what kind of country we wish to build after the war.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the statesmen who are actively seeking partnership with Churches and religious organizations.
This week may well go down in history as a week of spiritual and social leadership from the Christian Churches of Ukraine. Alongside the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations—which includes not only Christians but also Jews and Muslims—there is also the Council of Christian Churches of Ukraine. This week, it convened a meeting with various civic organizations that declare their activity is rooted in Christian values. Together, we are striving to understand how to build our Ukrainian society on certain inviolable foundations—those which form the core of the Church’s social teaching.
This meeting between religious leaders and public organizations was engaging and fruitful. It resulted in the signing of a joint document—an appeal that speaks to the very cornerstones of social and civic renewal. It points the way toward restoring Ukraine and lays a foundation for our success and our future victory.
Today is Palm Sunday, which ushers us directly into Holy Week and leads us toward the mystery of the Lord’s Pascha—the greatest and most sacred feast of our Christian faith. Today, we contemplate Jesus Christ, our Savior, entering Jerusalem. And it is the youth who first recognize Him—the teacher from Galilee—riding humbly into Jerusalem on a donkey.
That is why this Sunday is especially dedicated to youth in our Church. Our young people, who have an innate sense of truth and justice. Our youth, upon whom both the present and future of Ukraine depend. The youth who today bear the greatest burden of this war. And yet, these believing, Christian young people are the very face of Ukrainian hope.
I congratulate Ukrainian youth—our girls and boys—on this beautiful day of the year. I encourage you: do not be afraid to meet your Lord and Savior today and to cry out with joy: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
O God bless Ukraine! Bless our women and men on the front lines! Bless all who build and seek peace in Ukraine! Bless our statesmen, our Church leaders, and our volunteers! God, bless our youth, who today defend and fight for a just and lasting peace! O God, bless our long-suffering Ukrainian land at this paschal time with Your just and 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.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
