You, mothers, today are the only ones fighting for the good of your children. Please think about Ukraine, and return home when the right time comes. Ukraine needs you all. Ukraine, your Homeland, misses you, cries, prays for you. And we believe the day will come when your fathers will return home alive from the front, you and your children — from a foreign land, and your family will be united again. And we will be together again in our native, independent, free Ukraine! This was stated by the head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, in his daily military address on the 169th day of Russia's war against Ukraine.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav addressed the mothers who, together with their children, were forced to leave Ukraine, and their husbands remained to defend it. The Primate's video message was shared by the UGCC Information Department.
"The whole world was touched by the footage of the father bringing his wife and child to the border, saying goodbye to them, and returning to defend his homeland. And the mother and child continued the difficult, uncertain path of the refugee," he said.
"Dear mothers, today we especially pray for you. I want to express my support to you. We remember you and pray for you. Today, you, a mother, are the only protection for your child in this strange world, but one door to this big, unknown, sometimes alien world. You are the only one in a foreign land who now has to take care of the Christian and your child's national and cultural upbringing. And we, as a community, a church, are willing to help. Our parishes and communities in different countries of the world, in particular where you are, want to be close, to envelop you in the warmth of solidarity and Christian love."
"God bless the Ukrainian people! Bless Ukrainian mothers! Bless the Ukrainian army - our sons and daughters, who are building the common good of the Ukrainian people, bringing this desired victory, begged from God, closer every day at the cost of their own lives. God, bless Ukraine with your God's just heavenly peace!" the Patriarch of the UGCC asked.