Patriarch Bartholomew in Foreword to UGCC Head’s Book: “Message of Peace” Will Help Spread the Truth About the Horrible War in Ukraine
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew wrote a foreword, “Twelve Months of a Horrible War,” to the book “Message of Peace” (“Orędzia pokoju”) by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in Polish. The book was published by Gaudium Publishing House in Lublin.
“You are now holding in your hands an honest, genuine, heartfelt conversation between His Beatitude Archbishop Sviatoslav and his people. This is a daily conversation between a father and his children during the tragic time of the great war that the Russian Federation unleashed in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This is an 800-page chronicle of twelve months of a terrible war written by the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church during the indomitable years of 2022 and 2023,” the preface reads.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, quoting His Beatitude Sviatoslav, emphasized that Ukraine has withstood, is fighting, and praying. “All religious communities of Ukraine, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, have been and continue to be with their people,” His Holiness wrote. “Despite the constant shelling and destruction of churches, a sincere prayer to God for a just peace and victory reverberates in Ukraine. Churches have become centers of missionary activity: hearts of mercy, points of invincibility, and, often, bomb shelters. Priests help soldiers and people who have lost their families and homes with prayer and care every day.”
Patriarch Bartholomew believes that the publication of the Polish translation of His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s book will facilitate the spread of the truth about the devastating war in Ukraine: “The release of this first version is important because Poland was the first country to shelter millions of Ukrainians, providing them with homes, social protection, and working conditions. We hope that in the near future there will be translations of this chronicle of justice, care, and evangelical spirit in other languages to raise awareness and promote greater support for Ukraine.”
“We once again denounce this cruel war and pray tirelessly to the Merciful Savior for the sons and daughters of the heroic Ukrainian people. May a just and eternal peace come to Ukraine,” the Ecumenical Patriarch wished.
Notably, the book of addresses by the Head of the UGCC in the first year of the full-scale war, “Ukraine Stands! Ukraine Fights! Ukraine Prays!” was published in Ukrainian in the spring of 2024. The foreword was written by Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko, and the afterword by American historian Timothy Snyder. The presentation took place on June 6, 2024, at the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy in Kyiv.
The UGCC Department for Information
