I ask you to be worthy ambassadors of your homeland, the Head of the UGCC to those who were forced to leave Ukraine
Dear sons and daughters, children of Ukraine! I ask you to be worthy ambassadors of your homeland, because when the world meets you, it wants to see, hear, and meet Ukraine in your face. Please preserve your culture, language, church, and religious identity. I am asking you to join our Ukrainian communities that exist in the countries where you are. This was said by the Head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church His Beatitude Svyatoslav in his daily military address on the 165th day of the unequal struggle of the Ukrainian people against the Russian aggressor.
“I would like to especially address on this Sunday those brothers and sisters of ours whom, unfortunately, today the world calls “refugees”—those who were forced to leave their homeland. And today they are scattered throughout the countries of Central and Western Europe, as well as in other parts of the world. Today they are scattered throughout the countries of Central and Western Europe, as well as in other parts of the world. Take care of the Christian and national upbringing of your children. Please do not abuse the hospitality of those people who receive you. Don’t just be consumers of their help, but actively participate in the work. In order to increase the common good of the country that has become your new home today. Integrate into the life of that country. But with all your strength resist assimilation, the disappearance of your personal, cultural, and national identity.
As our Kobzar says: “Gain knowledge, brothers! Think and read, and to your neighbours’ gifts pay heed, yet do not thus neglect your own” (Taras Shevchenko, 1845). Be the voice of Ukraine to the world. O God, bless Ukraine. Bless our Ukrainian people. Give us the strength to defeat evil in Your name. Bless our Ukrainian army. And grant that Your long-awaited, just, peace of God come to the Ukrainian land”, the head of the UGCC stressed.
The UGCC Department for Information
