OCU Primate: The evil empire cannot be called “Holy Rus”

09.04.2025, 10:20

In the context of Russia's war against Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy made an important remark. He compared the modern “Holy Rus” to an evil empire that kills innocent people, including children. He paid special attention to the tragic events following the attack of Russian troops on the city of Kryvyi Rih. He emphasized that these actions have nothing to do with Christian values, for no true Church would ever justify the killing of innocents.

The Primate of the OCU stated this during a sermon on April 6, the fifth Sunday of Lent.

Metropolitan Epifaniy emphasized that Christ and His Kingdom have nothing to do with the empires trying to assert their power through violence.

Addressing the faithful, he called on all Christians to reject any attempts to substitute earthly structures or political regimes for the “Kingdom of God on earth.” All attempts to create earthly kingdoms under the guise of religious slogans are false and often criminal. The Metropolitan emphasized that all those supporting criminal aggression and wars, including church officials who consider themselves part of the “Holy Rus,” become accomplices in the crimes of this evil empire.

Metropolitan Epifaniy repeatedly emphasized that no Christian can support murder and violence, even when the latter is masked and justified by religious slogans.

He called on the faithful to pray for the souls of those who died at the aggressor's hands and to believe in the inevitable victory of Good over Evil.

“May the Lord, in His mercy, bring closer the day of victory over the evil of the 'Russian world.' And to all those who died at the hands of this evil empire, the Lord will grant rest in His kingdom,” the Metropolitan concluded.

Tags: #Epifaniy (Dumenko) #Russian world #ROC #Russian aggression against Ukraine