Dire times ahead, - Patriarch of the UGCC calls to serve the neediest

Many Ukrainians will soon experience financial distress because of the pandemic and will have no resources to buy food. Therefore, we should already think about how to help such people.

This was stated by Patriarch Sviatoslav in his sermon on April 5.

"We feel today that the consequences of this disease affect not only the body. We feel that the world economy has halted. The result of this test will be a really difficult life for a Ukrainian in his native land. Many families who are now forced not to work do not have the means to support themselves. We know that the largest investors in the Ukrainian economy were our employees, who today no longer have the opportunity to serve their families and their Homeland in this way. Dire times of great economic difficulty are looming ahead. We will also face dire times of our state-building, " the first Hierarch said.

The Patriarch reminded how recently we asked the elderly to stay at home and not leave the house.

"But today, as a Church, we must think about how we, the Christians of Ukraine, can serve the most socially vulnerable people in our country. Because tomorrow there will be a lot of people who will not have the last penny for their daily bread."

The first Hierarch thanked those lay people who are already engaged in social service and find different ways to do so.

"So today I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our lay people who found a way to perform social service during the quarantine and even online to share the last penny for those who will need our support.

Drinking the Cup of the Lord today means that everyone feels responsible not only for their health but also for the lives of the neediest around us. We must pursue our ministry. If necessary, we will give what we have, what we know, what we know, " the head of the UGCC stressed.