CHRIST IS RISEN!

Dear Ukrainians!

Today is a very special day, which we always look forward to, which is celebrated by millions of people. Easter. A day that is a ray of light – especially bright and strong in times when black clouds seek to darken our sky. A day that gives us all hope and reminds us: evil has its hour, and God has its day. This is one of the meanings embedded in the history of Christ. About his earthly suffering and death and about his resurrection, about the fact that sooner or later, but certainly evil will retreat and life will triumph.

Today, these words find a response in every Ukrainian heart. And they strengthen our faith, which, despite everything, does not fade away for 1,152 days of full-scale war.

Each of us has experienced such moments. When it hurts a lot, it’s very difficult and when you ask: “God, why are we doing this? Strikes, explosions, gunshots, all this disaster, all this evil. How can you kill dozens of people in Sumy on Palm Sunday? Don’t you see, God? How they beat up the playground in Kryvyi Rih. How Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Odesa, dozens of our other cities burn every day. When will this end? And our land, our people, our children will hear the silence. How, after everything we’ve been through, not to lose faith?”

And when your mind can’t find answers to these questions, then you start listening to your heart. And something invisible, but very strong inside you doesn’t let you give up. It tells you where to find the light so you don’t get lost.

And then you see people around you. You look into the eyes of your relatives, the faces of your loved ones, you feel hugs, you feel support from both acquaintances and strangers. Support from Ukrainians. And you understand that you share the same values with them. And it is precisely values that united us all, absolutely not by chance, united us on the first day of the war and unite us to this day. This is will, endurance. Indifference and humanity. This is God. This is his manifestation. He is in our people. And therefore in people there is light. Therefore in people there is strength.

In every deed, in every small step on a difficult path and in every word of support, in every word: “How are you?”, “How can I help?”, “Take care of yourself.”

We know what we are defending. We know what we are fighting for. For whom and for whose sake. And therefore every time, no matter how difficult it is for us, we still do not lose faith. Because this faith is in each other. In those who stand next to you. In Ukrainians. In Ukrainian women. Faith that evil has its hour, and God has its day.

Dear people!

Let this day come. The hour of evil will end. The day of life will come. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. A day that lasts a century. And we will be able to gather together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter. When we will all be warm, calm, cozy in our souls and, of course, delicious. When it will be as it should be.

We want this all 1,152 days. We are united in this. Every day and especially today, when Ukrainians of all Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same date. Together. We fight together for Ukraine. And we pray together for Ukraine.

For those who cannot be with their families on Easter. For those who are on the front lines, with their brothers and sisters. For our fighters, warriors of light. We ask God to protect those who protect us. To strengthen the will of those who are now in captivity. For our prisoners, for all who must return home.

We ask you to help all those who dedicate their lives to helping others. To protect with your intercession those who protect Ukraine with their daily work. May God protect all who save, heal, and teach.

We pray today for everyone, for our children. For all the boys and girls who deserve a happy childhood. For our fathers and mothers who deserve a peaceful old age. For all our people who deserve the long-awaited peace.

Dear Ukrainians!

Our people are overcoming a very difficult path. But I am sure that the key word here is “overcoming”. And despite everything, every morning we find the strength to wake up, move, and do our part. What you can. Where it is needed. For those who are waiting for it. And many things around us can become a source of energy for us. The smile of a son or daughter, the voice of a mother, thoughts about those who are now at the front, or the memory of someone who covered you with their body. We can find an impulse to action in the news about the victories of our people and in our culture, books, poems, music. And, of course, we are inspired by the symbol of Easter and the story of the Resurrection of Christ. Therefore, we know for sure: all the stones that are thrown at us will not remain ruins on our land. We will turn all the stones that fly at us into a solid foundation for the future – future freedom, future peace, future memory of what we have gone through and what we have succeeded in. When in difficult times, not only the victory of weapons becomes decisive, but above all the victory of the spirit. Our victory. Of our spirit.

May all this come true.

May God help us in this.

Let there be peace. Let there be Ukraine.

Christ is risen! Truly risen!