On February 22, on the Maidan in Kyiv, Ukrainian clerics led memorial prayers for protesters who were killed by bullets from special force snipers in Kyiv. They called the protesters fallen heroes of the “Heavenly Hundred” and assured that for their sacrifice and love for others the Lord will give them the kingdom of heaven.
They prayers were led by representatives of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Jewish community, and Protestants. An archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate was also present.
The clerics noted that due to the victims’ sacrifice we obtained freedom and that the Maidan must spread to the whole country, because it is a place of truth, love, and justice.
The Primate of the Kyivan Patriarchate, who was warmly greeted by the people, said that we are starting to win, but the fight for freedom for the country has not yet ended.
“We need to be careful,” he said, “because the evil forces are trying to break our unity. We need to cease hostilities and to stand firmly on the principles of truth. For there can be no reconciliation between good and evil. There can be nothing in common between light and darkness.”
Patriarch Filaret also noted that now is an opportune moment for the establishment in Ukraine of one national Ukrainian Church.
“The Synod of the Church appealed to the episcopate of the UOC-MP with a proposal to unite in one church.
“They do not realize whom they serve. They must serve their people and be independent from other states. Love them, but above all love their country. Because the enemies are using our division and this division is not only in the church, but in the entire nation. Therefore, for the entire Ukrainian people to be one, the Orthodox Church must be one,” the patriarch said on the Maidan.