On the 179th day of Russia's war against Ukraine, Patriarch Svyatoslav thanked all those who are fighting for peace, asserting it, and looking for various effective alternative ways to avoid using weapons in solving the problems of modern humanity. He thanked all those who stand beside the suffering Ukrainian people in this terrible tragedy.
Source: UGCC Information Department
The Patriarch continued his reflection, saying that the devil is sowing the seeds of war. This is exactly what we are seeing in Ukraine right now.
"Who are those who come to kill us, who torture our children, women and elders? These are people from those regions of Russia where the criminal authorities have stolen the opportunity for Integral and just development - personal, as well as of their family, people, and even the part of the country where they live. The only way that the Russian authorities offer them to survive, keep their families, and find a livelihood is to kill. This type of recruiters, unfortunately, disperse throughout Russia, even through the network of Orthodox churches, encouraging them with rewards. And the worst thing is that they give permission to kill with impunity and enrich themselves with looting. And since the opportunity to live and develop is stolen from these people, they go to kill Ukrainians."
As His Beatitude Sviatoslav notes, war is a disaster that can never contribute to the development of an individual, state or society and can never be a solution to problems. On the contrary, like sin does, it only worsens the state of man and society and is always a defeat for humanity. Therefore, more than 100 years ago, Pope Pius XII noted that in peace, we lose nothing, and in wars, we can lose everything.
"No one and nothing can justify the outbreak of war in the modern world. It is always immoral. This is a tragic moment that can always be avoided. There is no excuse for those who use war as a tool to solve socio-political or international problems. Therefore, the conscience of every honest person calls him and the world to condemn the war. Means, methods, or goals can never justify war. That is why it is so painful to hear that someone justifies it to date, even among religious figures."
The Patriarch noted that all those who started wars lost them. The first victims were the peoples of those states that supported the criminal actions of their statesmen.
"Today, there are about 20 different wars going on in the world. But in Ukraine, this is something special and more dangerous because it was started by a country with atomic weapons and threatens our state and the whole world. The war in Ukraine is a crime against humanity, a defeat of humanity, and therefore a danger of involving the whole of humanity in a military adventure. Therefore, we must all do everything possible to stop the unfair aggressor who condemns his own people to poverty and kills Ukrainians on their own territory."
His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked all those who clearly condemned Russia's immoral aggressive war against Ukraine. First of all, the world religious figures and leaders: Pope Francis, Primates of Orthodox Churches led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the World Council of Churches led by its president Fr Ioan Sauca, who recently visited Ukraine, all leaders of Protestant communities, leaders of Jewish communities and Islamic religious communities.
"God, grant peace to modern humanity! God, destroy the plans of the aggressor. Stop his murderous hand with your Divine power! God, support all the efforts that humanity is making today to nip in the bud the devil's plans to sow war in the bosom of modern humanity. God, bless Ukraine with your just heavenly peace!" His Beatitude Sviatoslav asked.