Dear brothers and sisters!

Today, we commemorate the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called — a disciple of Christ, tireless traveller, enlightener, and preacher, who became an example of deep faith and faithfulness to the Saviour.

The Apostle Andrew was an ordinary fisherman with a warm and open heart, ready to hear the calling of God. He was the first to recognise Jesus as the Messiah, and, together with his elder brother Simon Peter, he became His disciple, leaving all for the sake of serving the Truth.

The Apostle Andrew followed the Saviour everywhere, sharing all the hardships and trials with Him and becoming a witness of numerous wonders and revelations.

According to an ancient church tradition, after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Christ cast lots, which determined the paths for their preaching. The Apostle Andrew was to bring the Gospel to faraway Pagan countries. He set out for dangerous journeys, armed only with his ardent faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit, Who worked great wonders through him, baptising peoples and founding the first Christian communities.

Thus, preaching the Risen Saviour day after day, the Apostle Andrew reached the Northern Black Sea Region and the banks of the Danube. According to ancient chronicles, he sailed up the Dnieper to the lands of the Scythians and the Slavs. On the Kyivan hills — where golden-domed Kyiv would later appear — the Apostle planted a cross and prophecied: “Upon these hills shall shine forth the beneficence of God!”.

His prophecy was fulfilled: it was here that, thanks to the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, our people were baptised, becoming a full-fledged part of the large Christian family. Kyiv was indeed adorned with a multitude of churches and monasteries, holy ascetics, and great shrines, becoming a true pearl of the Orthodox world.

Centuries went by. Rulers, names, social systems, and boundaries changed, but one thing remained unchanged: the people's love for God and their faithfulness to the Holy Mother Church and steadfastness in preserving centuries-old traditions — that backbone directed towards Heaven, which kept and preserved us from vanishing in times of most difficult trials.

We should not forget about it today as well, when we are living through one of the most dramatic episodes of our history. Actions of the enemies of the true Church have led to many churches and monasteries, unfortunately, being seized, destroyed, profaned, desecrated by godless events, or simply being empty.

The prophetic words of the Holy Apostle Andrew give us confidence that all of it will pass, for the grace of God is not subject to earthly laws or decrees. Everything will be back on the rails, churches with shining domes will be restored again and filled with praying people and the fragrance of Orthodox worship to the glory of God.

It will be so because for Ukraine, the Apostle Andrew is not just a historical figure, but a heavenly patron, whose prayerful help protects Kyiv today too. He was and is an example of unshakeable spiritual courage. Bringing people light and love and often faced with malice and hatred, want and dangers, he overcame all the fears and doubts with his faith.

May the prayers of the Holy Apostle Andrew strengthen us on our life path, give us wisdom and strength, and help to return the long-awaited peace to our land, restore justice and happy life there, and keep the Orthodox faith and our canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. May his blessing always be with us!