19 December 2025
Dear brothers and sisters!
I wholeheartedly greet you on the day of the memory of a great God-pleaser, Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker.
He holds a special place in the hearts of people among a multitude of saints of the Church. He is loved not for his big name or former greatness but for his surprising affinity.
Saint Nicholas is one to whom people turn when there is no one else to turn to anymore. When there is pain, fear, injustice. When the world seems to have gone deaf and callous.
The Church calls him a 'rule of faith and a model of meekness'. In these words, there is not a poetic expression but the essence of his feat. Saint Nicholas was unwavering and uncompromising when the matter concerned the Truth but infinitely merciful to man. He did not seek compromise with lies but always found a place for love.
Today, we need this example more than ever. We live in times when cruelty is often portrayed as strength, cynicism as maturity, treason as wisdom, indifference as 'common sense'. When a person is ever more often assessed according not to heart but to gain. And that is why Saint Nicholas remains a living reproach and a living consolation for us at the same time.
He teaches: the strength of a person is not in shouts, not in slogans, not in ostensible activism. It is in the purity of heart, in the ability to preserve humanity when the world hardens. In the capability to protect one who is weak without betraying the truth. In the courage to be kind when kindness becomes rare.
It is no wonder that Saint Nicholas became famous as a sure helper. His faith was always active. He did not talk about mercy — he lived it. He secretly helped the needy, protected the innocent, stopped unjust verdicts, reconciled those who were at enmity. His life obviously shows that the love of Christ is stronger than fear and evil.
Today, when our country, our people, and their flesh and blood — our canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church — are going through hard trials, when there is so much pain, confusion, and anxiety around, we understand especially clearly: to honour Saint Nicholas means to imitate him. It means not to harden. Not to give in. Not to betray. Not to lose the ability for compassion. Not to let hatred drive love out of one's heart.
The words of Saint Luke (Voyno-Yasenetsky) come to mind, 'Be kinder than necessary because everyone is fighting their war or battle and suffering losses.' Those words are not just a piece of advice but a spiritual landmark.
Today, everyone has his own cross and his own burden. And our task is not to increase it but to ease it to the best of our ability.
The Church teaches that when we turn to saints with boldness, they hear us in the Holy Spirit and intercede for us before the Throne of God. It is not a beautiful metaphor — it is a spiritual truth, borne out by the experience of millions of people.
We have a great intercessor in Heaven!
I believe that by the prayers of Saint Nicholas, the Lord will keep our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, strengthen our pastors and believers, give us wisdom and strength in temptations, and help to establish long-awaited peace in our long-suffering land.
May Saint Nicholas protect your families and homes, strengthen in faith, console in tribulations, and teach us the most important thing — to love our neighbour Christian-like.
Happy feast, dear brothers and sisters!
All related news I wholeheartedly greet you on the day of the memory of a great God-pleaser, Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker.
He holds a special place in the hearts of people among a multitude of saints of the Church. He is loved not for his big name or former greatness but for his surprising affinity.
Saint Nicholas is one to whom people turn when there is no one else to turn to anymore. When there is pain, fear, injustice. When the world seems to have gone deaf and callous.
The Church calls him a 'rule of faith and a model of meekness'. In these words, there is not a poetic expression but the essence of his feat. Saint Nicholas was unwavering and uncompromising when the matter concerned the Truth but infinitely merciful to man. He did not seek compromise with lies but always found a place for love.
Today, we need this example more than ever. We live in times when cruelty is often portrayed as strength, cynicism as maturity, treason as wisdom, indifference as 'common sense'. When a person is ever more often assessed according not to heart but to gain. And that is why Saint Nicholas remains a living reproach and a living consolation for us at the same time.
He teaches: the strength of a person is not in shouts, not in slogans, not in ostensible activism. It is in the purity of heart, in the ability to preserve humanity when the world hardens. In the capability to protect one who is weak without betraying the truth. In the courage to be kind when kindness becomes rare.
It is no wonder that Saint Nicholas became famous as a sure helper. His faith was always active. He did not talk about mercy — he lived it. He secretly helped the needy, protected the innocent, stopped unjust verdicts, reconciled those who were at enmity. His life obviously shows that the love of Christ is stronger than fear and evil.
Today, when our country, our people, and their flesh and blood — our canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church — are going through hard trials, when there is so much pain, confusion, and anxiety around, we understand especially clearly: to honour Saint Nicholas means to imitate him. It means not to harden. Not to give in. Not to betray. Not to lose the ability for compassion. Not to let hatred drive love out of one's heart.
The words of Saint Luke (Voyno-Yasenetsky) come to mind, 'Be kinder than necessary because everyone is fighting their war or battle and suffering losses.' Those words are not just a piece of advice but a spiritual landmark.
Today, everyone has his own cross and his own burden. And our task is not to increase it but to ease it to the best of our ability.
The Church teaches that when we turn to saints with boldness, they hear us in the Holy Spirit and intercede for us before the Throne of God. It is not a beautiful metaphor — it is a spiritual truth, borne out by the experience of millions of people.
We have a great intercessor in Heaven!
I believe that by the prayers of Saint Nicholas, the Lord will keep our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, strengthen our pastors and believers, give us wisdom and strength in temptations, and help to establish long-awaited peace in our long-suffering land.
May Saint Nicholas protect your families and homes, strengthen in faith, console in tribulations, and teach us the most important thing — to love our neighbour Christian-like.
Happy feast, dear brothers and sisters!
