Met Pavel: Devil rejoices – Ukraine being destroyed from outside and inside

Metropolitan Pavel. Photo: a screenshot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra's YouTube channel

Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), the abbot of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, summed up the disappointing results of 2022 in his address for the new year 2023.

"Today, temporal people in power, driving out the Mother of God, expose believing people to grief, expose the country to danger... Today the devil rejoices in many events. Because the enemy is destroying Ukraine from the outside, from the inside, and now he has taken up the spiritual, what they could not do in all periods of thousand-year history. Not aliens but our own enemies have come, trying to expose us to unbelief and desolation," said the archpriest.

The Metropolitan wonders why no one in Ukraine is fighting against Catholics, Protestants, Uniates and other religions but only against the UOC.

"Because they are afraid of Christian God, they are afraid of faith because they will answer to God for all the atrocities. History knows that foreigners have closed monasteries, but when homegrown foreigners close monasteries – it is sad. But on the blood of martyrs and the patience of confessors, the Church is strengthened, and the grace of God comes into power. When human strength is exhausted, and we have exhausted it, the Lord steps in with His strength, with His wisdom. And God is not mocked! Not today but tomorrow – He will give one’s due to whomever," said Metropolitan Pavel.

As reported, Metropolitan Paul reminded the modern persecutors of the Church that Herod also wanted to defeat Christ but was eaten by worms.

Read also

UOC’s humanitarian mission delivers aid to Kherson and Donetsk regions

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s humanitarian mission provided food and medicines to residents of Kherson Region and frontline towns in Donbas.

Foreign Minister: Phanar is strengthening spiritual independence of Ukraine

Andrii Sybiha noted the “wisdom” and “fatherly love” of the head of the Constantinople Patriarchate.

In Pasika, Transcarpathia, priest defects to OCU while community remains in UOC

In the village of Paseka in Transcarpathia, believers discussed the future fate of their church.

In Sumy, Presentation Church of UOC damaged by shelling

In the Sumy Eparchy, the walls and fence of the Presentation Church were damaged as a result of shelling, but divine services continue.

Ukraine loses almost 98% of cases at European Court of Human Rights

According to the ECtHR’s 2025 report, nearly all complaints against Ukraine end with findings of human rights violations.

UOC Chancellor on Kyiv Council decision targeting UOC: Obvious lawlessness

Metropolitan Anthony said the document adopted by the Kyiv Regional Council violates the Constitution, interferes with freedom of religion, and exceeds the body’s authority.