We urge all people around the world – stop these mass killings of people, Head of the UGCC on fifteenth day of war
“Today my conscience and the conscience of every Christian demands that we raise our voices throughout the world and loudly say the word "No," to declare strong opposition to the mass murder of people in Ukraine. Especially in these last moments, we see mass murder in the besieged city of Mariupol,” said the Head of the Church.
He recalled that city of Mariupol, which was founded by the Greek community as the City of Mary, today has become a cemetery for thousands of people. “Yesterday we saw,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, “horrific scenes of the bombarding of a maternity ward as well as scenes of mass graves, common burials, where hundreds of lifeless bodies are laid to rest. Today we must say throughout the world: No! No to mass murder in Ukraine!”
The Archbishop stated that since the time of Nazism, the time of Stalin's repressions, Ukraine has never seen such mass burials and mass graves of people without respect, without Christian prayer. “Today we must say throughout the whole world: Stop the mass murder of people!” he appealed.
City of Mariupol has about four hundred thousand inhabitants and has been completely surrounded for almost two weeks now. “People are dying from hunger. People are dying from the cold. On their heads there are falling on rockets, shells, bombs. Today we must remember them and, in their name, speak to the conscience of the whole world. We beseech you: Open humanitarian corridors! Give woman, children, and the elderly an opportunity to leave this cold, besieged city. Give us the opportunity to send food and medicine there. Give us an opportunity to rescue people," the Head of the Church said.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav calls to lift up voice in defense of those who die every day before the eyes of the whole world. Today, millions of people are fleeing from their homes in the south, east, and north of Ukraine and moving to safer places.
The Major Archbishop appealed to all residents of Ukraine whose homes are visited by the forced migrants, regardless of what language they speak, which Church they attend, what customs they have, and open their hearts and homes to them, embrace them in the name of God.
“Today before our eyes in Ukraine there is a developing and unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. But together we can do this, we can stop it, we can stop this war,” he said.
The Head of the UGCC addressed the world Ukrainian community, all bishops and priests: “carry the truth about the genocide of the Ukrainian people to the world community!” He called for memorial services for the dead to be held in all churches for those buried in mass graves without Christian prayer and burial.
