Ukraine is now defending the future of Europe. Therefore, it should not be viewed as a problem for the continent.
Ukraine is now defending the future of Europe. Therefore, it should not be viewed as a problem for the continent.
Patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) said it in an interview with the Italian weekly Il Foglio, the Department of Information of the UGCC reports.
“My country, my people are deeply wounded. The wounds of communism, the Soviet past and Stalin totalitarianism, as well as the wounds of the WWII are still aching our body... The wounds of the Communist totalitarianism, which have not stopped bleeding since the days of World War II, are now reopened by the Russian aggression,” said the Greek Catholic spiritual leader.
The Ukrainian society, in his view, is currently experiencing post-traumatic syndrome.
“According to official figures, over five years of Russian aggression in the East of Ukraine, more than 10,000 people were killed, thousands disappeared; there are millions of refugees and IDPs. We have tens of thousands of physically wounded, but the whole country suffers from a psychological sore. We learnt from our own example that the war effects not only the body but also the human soul – because of a psychological trauma the society experiences post-traumatic syndrome. These sores inflict great pain on Ukrainians, which is growing more intensive and manifests itself in different ways.”
The Patriarch of the UGCC has also recalled Pope Francis saying that the Church in Ukraine has become a real field hospital, because it is only from the Church that people are hoping to get answers to fundamental questions. Moreover, Ukrainians have the hope of seeing a true testimony of solidarity, moral and spiritual benchmarks in the path of healing the wounds caused by the war.
“Therefore, we must take into account the fact that today the war has changed its face. War is a great evil that effects one’s heart, mind, and body, but above all the ability of a person to be genuinely free and to cooperate with their neighbor for the common good. And this is a great tragedy. So today, Ukraine is truly a country that protects Europe, protects authentic European values, and therefore one shouldn't look at it as a problem for Europe. On the contrary: at the present stage, important issues of pan-European significance, the future of Europe are being solved in Ukraine. All that we are experiencing in Ukraine and try to solve in due time will be the wealth of the whole of Europe,” said Patriarch of the UGCC Svyatoslav (Shevchuk).