May the power of God’s love, which envelops us today in the Jordanian baptismal font, teach us to love God sincerely, one another, and our homeland: to give ourselves so as not to surrender Ukraine. Let this be the code of honor for every Ukrainian—the essence of civic and Christian responsibility for our people, land, children, and future. Anyone capable of such love becomes a bearer of God’s Theophany. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC, emphasized this today, January 6, on the Feast of the Theophany.
Bishop Stepan Sus, Bishop of the Curia of the Supreme Archbishop, and Bishop Andriy Khimyak, Auxiliary Bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy, concelebrated with the Head of the Church at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. This was reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.
In the context of the Feast of the Theophany, His Beatitude Sviatoslav shared words he had heard from a soldier who brought the body of a deceased son to his grieving mother—words about the meaning of true love, which revitalizes, saves, and is eternal.
According to the Head of the UGCC, when the mother asked how this had happened to her son, the soldier replied, “He gave himself up so as not to give up Ukraine.”
“We pray today: Jesus, come to us. Take on all our pains, weaknesses, sufferings, frustrations, and even our sinfulness and disbelief. Lead us out of the Jordanian font renewed, full of strength and optimism, able to live, fight, and overcome evil. Grant us this victory, for which we pray, as You destroyed Pharaoh’s army in the waters of the Red Sea. In the same way, destroy the devil in the waters of the Jordan,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav prayed.
The Liturgy was followed by the Great Jordanian blessing of the water on the Dnipro River and the sprinkling of the faithful.