UGCC Head to Ukrainians in Norway: The World Should Not Grow Weary of Ukraine — We Are Fighting for the Future
His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, together with Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians in Germany and Scandinavia, took part in a daily solidarity rally with Ukraine, held in the center of Oslo near the Parliament and the Royal Residence. After the event, at the invitation of the Ukrainian community, the Head of the Church attended a charity evening organized in support of Ukraine.
The local Ukrainian community, together with Norwegian friends, has been organizing daily solidarity campaigns in support of Ukraine. Such rallies have been held in Oslo every day since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav conveyed greetings from brothers and sisters in Kyiv to the rally participants. He thanked the Ukrainian community in Oslo for holding daily rallies dedicated to Ukraine: “Thank you for making this a daily event. It shows that today, more than ever, we are truly united in defending our freedom. It is as if the Maidan in Kyiv is echoing in the square in Oslo.”
The spiritual leader of Ukrainians underlined the importance of countering Russian disinformation: “At first, Russia began attacking Ukraine with sophisticated information weapons. Only then did Russian missiles, drones, and other weapons follow. And we can counter these lies by speaking the truth.”
Quoting St. Augustine, the Head of the UGCC reminded:
“The truth does not need to be defended; it needs to be witnessed. Because the truth has its own power. The truth is like a lion that only needs to be released from its cage. What we are doing here now is releasing the power of truth into the public space of the Kingdom of Norway.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav shared painful facts about life in Kyiv under constant shelling: “Our Ukrainian children have been unable to sleep at night for months. Young children are afraid of the dark and nighttime because they know that this is when drones and missiles start attacking. And when the day comes, it’s time to go to school, and they want to sleep.”
The Head of the UGCC emphasized: “Today it is very important that the world does not grow weary of Ukraine. Sometimes those who do not know what war is, who have never experienced Russian night bombings, say that they are exhausted. I say, if you are tired, should I be dead? But we stand, we fight, and we declare to the whole world that we not only have the right to exist as a people, as a language, as a culture, as a state — we are ready to lay down our lives for it.”
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His Beatitude Sviatoslav called on Ukrainians in Norway to preserve their identity and unity:
“I ask you: here in Norway, remember whose children you are! Unite in the Ukrainian community, unite in the Ukrainian Church! Do not lose yourselves in this country! Because we are fighting not only for our present; we are also fighting for our future.”
Quoting his predecessor, His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar, the Head of the UGCC reminded:
“Every day, as you get up in the morning, ask yourself: what good can I do for Ukraine today? You will see that your conscience will guide you on what good you can do for our long-suffering but heroic homeland on this particular day and in this particular place.”
His Beatitude Sviatoslav invited Ukrainians to attend the Divine Liturgy, which will be celebrated on October 19 at 4:00 p.m. local time at St. Halvard’s Church in Oslo, where the local Ukrainian community gathers for prayer and receives spiritual support.
Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, who visited this place a year and a half ago, shared touching words about the nature of love: “When St. Paul speaks of love, he says that love is patient. Love is not a fleeting emotion; it is a decision of the will. We will stand firm until the end and until victory.”
Bishop Bohdan, who worked with His Beatitude Sviatoslav in Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity, drew a parallel between the events on the Maidan at that time and today’s struggle: “There, day and night, the word of truth and the word of prayer reverberated. The people of Kyiv and the participants in the Revolution of Dignity said that we learned to pray on the Maidan. But we also learned to love — to love God, our native land, and one another.”
Calling on everyone not to grow weary, Bishop Bohdan quoted the Apostle Paul: “And you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. Because the dictator expects us to get tired of doing good, while he does not get tired of destroying and killing.”
The day concluded with a charity evening organized by the Ukrainian community in Oslo. His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked those present, saying: “Your solidarity saves lives. You are the voice of free Ukraine in Norwegian society.”
“Our warriors, who are fighting for the freedom of Ukraine, understand that they are also defending the freedom of Europe,” emphasized the Primate, adding: “Be aware that your peaceful nights and your comfort have been secured at a high price paid by the Ukrainian people.”
Then the Father and Head of the UGCC prayed for Ukraine, its military, and its people, and gave his archpastoral blessing to the Ukrainian community in Oslo.
The UGCC Department for Information
