On February 24, 2022, the unjust Russian aggressor brought death and destruction to the Ukrainian land. But even in that dramatic moment, and now, we continue to believe that God is with us. Our hope is in God, and our victory will come from Him.
This was stated by His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
“That is why this period is also a period of great hope for the Ukrainian people. A thousand days of hope!” the hierarch emphasized.
According to him, our hope is not an empty feeling.
“We experience that Jesus Christ, God who became a man, is present in the body of the suffering Ukrainian people. It is He who is once again condemned to death, tortured, and killed. It is He who allows Himself to be imprisoned. It is He who goes into captivity with the Ukrainian military. He is among those who are missing. He is the one who was wounded. Yet He conquered evil, sin and death and rose from the dead.
We have hope because we believe in the resurrection. The Great War is 1000 days of experience of the presence of the power of the resurrected Christ in the body of Ukrainians. The resurrection is already pulsating in our veins, and we are waiting for its fullness. We are a nation that hopes for the power of the risen Savior and experiences this power every day in our personal history,” said the Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that there were moments in our history when it seemed that our roots and culture would be destroyed. Yet, thanks to God's power, we survived.
“We rely on God's power, which is manifested even in our wounds, tears and grief,” he emphasized.
“So much hope has been born in us during these 1000 days! The hope of soldiers, volunteers, medics, rescuers, fathers, mothers and children - the hope of those who share the last of their food with those in need, lift the hands of the downcast, help those in extreme need and despair...
On February 24, 2022, we were given three days. Today is the thousandth day of the great war. And we, the witnesses of hope, strongly affirm: Ukraine is wounded, but not defeated. Ukraine is tired, but it stands and will continue to do so!” added the Head of the UGCC.