Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Week 212 of the War: Resist Evil Thoughts as Temptations from the Enemy of Mankind — Think of What Is Good
As we enter the third week of Lent, I would like to draw our attention to the principles of spiritual struggle, the so-called invisible warfare. This was stated by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in his traditional video address during the 212th week of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Primate noted that this week also marked the beginning of the war in the Middle East, however, the war in Ukraine has its own special character and, sadly, continues.
“At the same time, this week brought a ray of light that filled our hearts with gratitude to God and people and brought joy. Another exchange of prisoners of war took place. About 500 defenders of Ukraine returned home from Russian captivity. Among them were the defenders of Mariupol, the heroic Azovstal, who had been in captivity for almost four years and could finally return to their families,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
On March 7, in response to the appeal of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, Ukraine prayed for peace. “Prayers for peace—true and just—were heard in all our churches, cathedrals, parishes, and monasteries,” added the Head of the Church.
Ukrainians, he said, know well what war is, and therefore are acutely aware of the danger of igniting new conflicts in different parts of the world. On this day especially, we prayed for the Middle East, where war is raging today—particularly in Iran, the Holy Land, Lebanon, and other countries that are being drawn into this turmoil.
On March 8, the UGCC commemorates another sad anniversary—80 years since the so-called Lviv pseudo-council, when Stalin’s repressive machine liquidated the legal existence of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the Soviet Union—its structures, parishes, and monasteries.
“However, it is impossible to destroy the Church, which is a community of believers. As we commemorate this sorrowful anniversary, we also wish to warn of the danger of new liquidations and persecutions that the Russian occupation authorities are perpetrating in the territories they have seized. Wherever Russian occupation comes, religious freedom disappears. And the first to be hit are the communities, parishes, and structures of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church,” the spiritual leader emphasized.
Today we pray for religious freedom for all. We are grateful for the witness of faith of our martyrs and confessors. And we ask that the world remember this and do its utmost to ensure that such crimes never happen again.
Read also:
Video Message of the Head of the UGCC on the 212th Week of the Full-Scale War, March 8, 2026
We begin the third week of Great Lent according to the eastern Paschal cycle.
“As we enter the third week of Great Lent, I want to urge all of you to be mindful of your thoughts. Fight evil thoughts as temptations from the enemy of mankind. Think about what is good. Think about what your dreams might be. Plan good things and put them into practice through good deeds. This is the secret to victory in the invisible spiritual battle. Think about good things and let goodness triumph in your daily life,” the spiritual leader concluded.
The UGCC Department for Information
