What country do angels work for?
Patriotic angels. Photo: Suspilne
At the Dubno Monastery of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, new icons were unveiled, among which were angels with swords and sashes in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The abbot draws particular attention to these sashes.
He does not elaborate on the details, but it seems that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine believes that angels should protect Ukraine's interests. Judging by the swords, these interests appear to be military in nature.
Yes, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, our country is the victim, but this hardly justifies "privatizing" angelic forces by putting them at the service of the Ukrainian state. Why is this inappropriate?
The famous words of Apostle Paul, that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood," can primarily be applied to angelic forces. In the Holy Scriptures, angels act as messengers of God and executors of His will.
Thus, they do not kill people or take sides with any particular country (no matter how much we might wish it so). Angels engage in "warfare" only against "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Therefore, "Ukrainian angels" represent a new concept in theology – and it rings false.
Read also
On sausage and milk during the fast
The true meaning of fasting is not gastronomical but spiritual. Yet how many of us can honestly say that during the fast we pray more, refrain from judging anyone, visit hospitals and prisons, and tend to those in distress?
Orthodoxy and LGBT: Has the first domino fallen?
The Council of the Finnish Church has endorsed LGBT rights and supporters of gender ideology.
On Constantinople Patriarchate’s decision to honor head of organized crime group
The Ecumenical Patriarchate never ceases to astonish.
Opening a bust of Mazepa: A new era for Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra. Or not?
Do Zelensky, Yelensky, and the rest of the Kotliarevska cohort truly believe that, in the Lavra, prayer should be displaced by these absurd Soviet-style spectacles?
The UOC and the end of the Yermak era
The man who clearly played a major role in the processes unfolding between the authorities and the UOC has stepped down.
On the harassment of a Russian speaking child by “OCU atheist”
A scandal is now raging online over the latest outburst of a language activist who decided to “cut down to size” a 3-year-old displaced girl.