The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Head in the 214th Week of the War: We Feel That Ukraine Is at the Core of Global Change
At this time, as we reflect on the Lord’s Passion, our people and our Church are offering fervent prayers for peace in Ukraine and throughout the world. This was stated by the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in his traditional video address marking the 214th week since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The Primate noted that the past week was again marked by Russia’s nighttime attacks on peaceful cities and villages in Ukraine.
Furthermore, this week will go down in the history of universal Christianity for another reason: “The Lord has called two prominent figures of the Orthodox world to His eternal kingdom. On March 17, Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II of the Georgian Orthodox Church passed away; he had led his Church since 1977 and served as the spiritual father of the Georgian people for over half a century. And on March 20, the Lord called to Himself Filaret, Honorary Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine—a prominent figure of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.”
“Despite the pain of these losses, we continue to work for the future of Ukraine,” His Beatitude Sviatoslav added.
Summing up the past week, the Head of the Church noted that an important meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine took place at the Patriarchal Center in Kyiv, during which the parties agreed to coordinate efforts to support Ukrainian youth, who today look to the Church for spiritual and moral guidance, as well as for support and understanding from the state.
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Video Message of the Head of the UGCC on the 214th Week of the Full-Scale War, March 22, 2026
Speaking about Lent, the spiritual leader remarked: “We see how Ukrainian Christians heed God’s voice. Spiritual events were held in cities and villages. In particular, Christians took up the Lord’s Cross and walked the Way of the Cross in His sufferings. At the same time, we feel that Ukraine is at the core of global change. Not only Ukraine’s future, but also the future of the world depends on how we respond to the challenges of war. That is precisely why Christians of various denominations have united in prayer and service.”
According to His Beatitude Sviatoslav, prayer without fasting often becomes merely a retreat into our own fantasies and thoughts, and at times an escape from reality.
“Let us ask ourselves: how do we pray? How do we fast? What works of mercy do we perform on the path to the Resurrection?” the Head of the Church urged.
The UGCC Department for Information
