From the Head of the UGCC on the 172 nd day of the war: May God’s help reach where human’s does not reach
Today we especially pray for our brothers and sisters from the occupied territories, who are forced to join criminal military groups and use their weapons against Ukrainians. We pray to the Lord for you today, for your liberation, freedom, dignity, for blessings for you and your families. The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, said in his daily address on the 172 nd day of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“The last day, especially at night, the Ukrainian land shuddered again. Heavy fighting is continuing in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. According to the reports received this morning, the fierciest fights took place around the cities of Pisky, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, where the enemy tried to attack and break through the heroic defense of the Ukrainian army. But our soldiers not only defend themselves successfully but repel the occupier, liberating our territories. Although the enemy is mercilessly shelling everything within reach of the murderous hand of his weapons. So it was in Luhansk region, Kharkiv region, as well as in Kherson region, the border of Chernihiv region and Sumy region. Nikopol, a large industrial center of Ukraine, was again subjected to heavy shelling”, His Beatitude Sviatoslav summed up morning news.
On this day, the Patriarch reflected on the rule of law. “The law of every state is essential to ensure the rights and freedom of citizens. The law and its justice depend on how consistent it is with God’s law, moral and natural. If the state law adheres to these four principles we talked about the other day, then that law is fair.”
According to the bishop, the purpose of civil legislation is to serve a person in his rights. In his opinion, where there is unfortunately, no force of law, the right of the strong only applies. And such societies are doomed to collapse. “The purpose of the rule of law, that what is ancient Christian principle of the existence of the state, is to protect the rights of the weakest. Indeed, a democratic society is not one where the rights of the majority are secured, but one where the rights of the minority are guaranteed,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized.
He also noted that the meaning of the rule of law at the time was very well characterized by Prince Volodymyr Monomakh of Kyiv in “Instruction to Children”: “Do not let the strong destroy a person!” “How prophetic they sound today! In particular, for our Motherland, where the strong, who break into our land, and destroy people, try to appropriate the state-building tradition of Kyiv Rus, completely distorting it. Thus, it is vital for us to overcome legal nihilism and establish the rule of law in Ukraine. We so need fair courts that would issue fair sentences, protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens,” the Archbishop said.
Specifically, the Primate addressed the citizens of Ukraine who were in the occupied territories. “Dear brothers and sisters! Dear Ukrainians of the occupied Kherson region, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk region, Luhansk region, Kharkiv region and Crimea, remember that you live on Ukrainian land! We remember you and want to help everyone in whatever way we can. Let God’s help reach where human’s does not reach. We pray for you every day because, unfortunately, the words that ‘where the rule of law does not apply, the blind, wild law of the strong governs’, which oppresses and persecutes, are fulfilled on you. We pray for those people in the occupied territories who today are despised, thrown into concentration camps, for those children of Ukraine who are forcibly taken from their families, taken to Russia, forcibly russified,” claims His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
“O God, bless Ukraine! God, bless the Ukrainian army! God, teach us to live according to Your righteous, God-given law, teach us to respect each other’s rights and thus learn to love each other in justice. O God, bless the children of Ukraine and grant them victory over evil. Grant us a just peace,” asked His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information
