Peace is about having a relationship with the truth, which is our risen Christ: Head of the UGCC in the 63 rd week of full-scale war
In horrendous and painful circumstances, amid waves of pain, blood, and tears, Ukrainians gaze at the Risen Christ present among us. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said on the 63 rd week of the full-scale war.
The enemy intentionally shells peaceful towns and villages in the middle of the night and fires rockets into civilian areas where people live. But even in the painful circumstances of war, we look to the risen Christ, telling the whole world that Ukraine stands, fights, and prays!
The Head of the Church noted that during such a painful week, Ukraine and our church encountered one good, bright event — a delegation from Taranto, Italy, led by Bishop Filippo Santoro, presented a bas-relief of the Archangel Michael to our Patriarchal Cathedral.
“The Archangel Michael is the patron saint of the city of Kyiv, the patron saint of the Ukrainian army, depicted as someone who fights for peace, but for peace which is just,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The Head of the UGCC noted that such a gesture is of great importance to Ukraine and its people because we all pray for peace. We say that peace is possible only when it is just. And the bas-relief is its accurate reflection.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav said that after a conversation with Bishop Santoro, members of the delegation, and the Italian ambassador, it was apparent that peace cannot be merely expressed in a text written on paper: “Peace is about relationships. Relationships with God, ourselves, and our neighbors. Peace is about the way we treat good and evil. Peace is a relationship with the truth, our risen Christ.”
The Abishop expressed his gratitude to all those who support Ukraine and urged everyone to pray for peace, starting to establish the desired peace from themselves: “Let us fight together with the Archangel Michael for a just peace, the way our Ukrainian army does it. Let us make this peace in our relationships. Let us establish peace through our right attitude towards good and implacably oppose real, blatant evil.”
The UGCC Department for Information
