His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry congratulates Ukrainians on Unity Day

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: news.church.ua

On January 22, 2024, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry congratulated Ukrainians on Unity Day, according to the Synodal Education Department of the UOC.

The Primate of the UOC noted that the holiday reminds us of the unity in which there is the strength of each nation, and it was this strength that Ukrainians demonstrated from the first days of the full-scale war.

His Beatitude Metropolitan reminded that the Church strongly condemns any encroachments on the internationally recognized borders of our country.

"That is why, on the first day of the war, our Church clearly stated that Ukraine is our state, that Ukraine is our native country, and we will defend it! A testimony to our state position is also the multitude of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who defend their Motherland in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, perform humanitarian missions, and engage in volunteering," the congratulation of the Primate says.

The Primate emphasized that with the course of the war, unity began to weaken, and the entire year of 2023 passed under the sign of pressure on the UOC.

"Among our believers, these events caused unpleasant and bitter surprise with a lack of understanding of these actions, because by pressuring the Church, pressure is exerted on our own citizens, who are both believers of the Church and part of Ukrainian society. This definitely does not contribute to the unity and consolidation of our people, of which our Church is a traditional and integral part," he said.

Metropolitan Onuphry stated that in order to counteract the dangers to statehood, we must overcome the divisive thinking and affirm the forces contributing to the establishment of Ukraine as unity in diversity.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity" (Psalm 132:1). Let these words of the Holy Scripture be pointers for all of us in the further defense, construction, and development of our country," he said.

The head of the UOC called for prayers for the unity of Ukraine. "I plead with you to pray for all those who live in the occupied territories and those who live in the diaspora because all of you continue to be and belong to the body of our Ukrainian nation," His Beatitude underscored. "We will also offer special prayers today for our brothers and sisters who stand in defense of our state—for our brave warriors who protect the country from enemies for the restoration of the integrity of our state and the return of peace and calm to our land."

As reported by the UOJ, earlier, the Primate noted that in 2024, believers of the UOC meet Christmas under the sounds of gunfire and suffering from the enmity of representatives of other confessions.

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