OCU Primate meets with the families of the Kremlin political prisoners in Donbas
On February 29, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine Metropolitan met with families of Kremlin political prisoners and prisoners and missing persons in the Donbas on the occasion of the anniversary of the resistance to Crimea by the Russian occupation.
According to the OCU press service, the event began with a prayer service at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral, after which the Metropolitan spoke to the audience.
"We believe that the Lord can release those who are temporarily held captive and held in Russian prisons. We already have the experience that the Lord creates certain conditions when they go out of prison, and today I see that there are many among us who have passed these trials. Therefore, the Church as a helper, as a counselor, and as a pastor today inspires each of you not to lay your hands on you, but to show your faith in prayer and to put your trust in God. The Lord will certainly hear our prayer because when we gather in such a large community, the Lord is with us,” said the Primate.
Several foreign diplomats have made a visit to support the families of illegally detained and missing persons. Among them, Temporary Representative for US Affairs in Ukraine, Ambassador of the European Union, Representatives of the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Montenegro and other countries and international institutions. The Minister of Veterans Affairs was present on the Ukrainian side. Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine Oksana Kolyada, Representatives of the Crimean Tatar people - MPs of Ukraine Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov, Permanent Representative of the President of the Crimea Anton Korniyevych with his First Deputy, Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other honored guests.
The relatives of the captives and missing persons told about their pain for their loved ones hiding no tears. The testimony that the hope of God is capable of creating miracles was the performance of those who survived the years of captivity and torture and eventually returned home.
“A wound and pain remain from what is heard in the heart. Today it was not possible to listen and not to worry about the pain of parents and relatives. Therefore, we will continue to do our best to help. I think this meeting will give a new impetus for us to re-witness, after some time, that our prayer is heard by God. But this requires common sincere faith. We do not need peace in captivity. We hear about such "peace" from witnesses who stayed in the occupied territories. We will fight to the end because on our side is the truth. I am convinced the aggressor will be eventually defeated and the captives will return home. In the meantime, let us continue to help one another and then love will unite and unite us. Thank you all,” said the Metropolitan.
