I heartily congratulate all of you, dear Ukrainians, on our national holiday — Ukraine's Independence Day — a celebration of the restoration of our thousand-year-old statehood!
The Primate of the OCU wrote about this on his Facebook page.
"Ukraine is our only earthly homeland, our home. We must care for it, protect it, strengthen it, and develop it.
The state and the country are not abstract concepts; they are primarily the community that creates and gives them meaning, which is all of us — the people of Ukraine. Among different nations, God has blessed our people with a unique and distinct existence, endowed with our own language and culture, and settled in our own land. He has also blessed us with a strong and passionate spirit as well as a special sense of justice, love of freedom, sincerity, warmth, and dedication.
As Ukrainians, we have received great gifts from God: we have the glorious history of Ukraine-Rus, which spans over a thousand years; we have strong roots and an ancient faith, our own local Church, and our own sacred places. Let us be grateful to the Lord for blessing our people with freedom, granting us state and spiritual independence, and giving us many allies and friends in this world.
As we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the restoration of our state independence, let us ask the Lord for a just peace and unity for Ukraine, solidarity with the entire civilized world, and a dignified future for our people.
Almighty Lord, protect our beloved Ukraine!" reads the greeting from the Primate of the OCU.