The Primate of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Onufriy appealed to the citizens of Ukraine in connection with the beginning of a full-scale Russian offensive. He urged to pray for the Ukrainian army, state and people.
The text of the appeal was released by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC-MP.
"Unfortunately, Russia has launched military operations against Ukraine, and at this fateful time, I urge you not to panic, be courageous and show love for your homeland and for each other. First, I call on you to pray hard for Ukraine, for our army and our people, I ask you to forget mutual strife and misunderstandings and unite with love for God and for our homeland.
At this tragic time, we extend our special love and support to our soldiers who stand guard and protect and protect our land and our people. May God bless and protect them!
Defending the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, we also appeal to the Russian President and ask him to immediately stop the fratricidal war. The Ukrainian and Russian peoples came out of the Dnieper baptismal font and the war between these peoples is a repetition of Cain's sin, which out of envy killed his own brother. Such a war has no justification either from God or from people.
I call on everyone to use common sense, which teaches us to solve our earthly problems in mutual dialogue and mutual understanding, and sincerely hope that God will forgive us our sins and God's peace will reign on our earth and around the world!"
As reported, earlier the UOC-MP declared that the war between Russia and Ukraine evolves only on TV.