Primate of the UOC: Keep your faith. It helps overcome hardships on earthly path
"Today the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is in griefs and trials. But the Lord did not promise another life to us. The Lord said to His followers: "In the world ye shall have tribulation." Church history abounds with persecution, ostracism, harassment and other trials.
Certainly, our grief compared to the tribulations that the Church of Christ underwent the first three hundred years since its foundation is nothing. Then the members of the Church were physically destroyed, but today we are only criticized and unjustly accused. This is the little testing of our love and patience."
The Primate of the UOC said that he is optimistic about the year of 2017, as "an Orthodox Christian cannot be pessimistic. Christians need to mourn only for their sins. If man begins to trust himself to God, he begins to build his life on the Divine law, he has his soul more and more purified from sin, he clearly sees God, and the future does not seem to him gloomy and hopeless. At the end of the darkest tunnels of despair a Christian sees God. "
His Beatitude wished the believers in the coming year, "the Lord's grace, forgiveness for our sins and God's blessing to carry the earthly cross with dignity and by worthy to be heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Keep your faith, and above all keep praying, - said the Primate. – It helps man overcome hardships encountered on his earthly path. Prayer gives man a sense of truth, because truth is difficult to know single-mindedly. There are many examples in life, when people who have a higher theological education, but do not have prayer, are "confused". And common people who have prayer, clearly tells truth from deception. It is prayer that gives a sense of truth, understanding what is light and what is darkness, what is good and what is evil. And may God help us all to pray in our daily life," he concluded.
Read also
Syrskyi awards “Golden Cross” to UOC’s Volyn Eparchy cleric
Ukraine’s military command recognized a priest who took part in combat operations and sustained a serious battlefield injury.
President of New York Young Republicans voices support for UOC
The American political activist recorded a video address in which he spoke of pressure on the Church in Ukraine and pledged to seek its protection internationally.
OCU parishioners in Kosmach sue each other over December 25 service
An OCU parish in Ivano-Frankivsk Region held no services either on December 25 or on January 7.
Analyst likens Bankova’s case against UOC to Stalin-era repression
Bondarenko said the way the authorities justify pressure on the Church may amount to the rhetoric of the totalitarian era.
Christmas caroling and festive concerts held across UOC eparchies
During the January celebration of the Nativity of Christ, UOC communities across the country sing carols, hold concerts, and organize charitable initiatives.
Primate: God’s law is written in every human heart
During a sermon in Boryspil, His Beatitude reminded the faithful of the meaning of Christmas and the need to live according to God’s commandments.