29 May 2025
Dear brothers and sisters!
I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the Great Feast — the Ascension of the Lord!
Today, we remember how the Saviour of the world completed His earthly mission and ascended to Heaven to the Father. But, leaving the world by His bodily presence, Christ has not forsaken it — He has become even closer to everyone who lives according to the Gospel and aspires to gain the grace of the Holy Spirit. 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age', Christ told His disciples — His apostles — and through them, He said it to all of us.
Today, when dark clouds of enmity and hatred have rolled in over our country, when the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church is living through constant humiliations, oppressions, and overt persecutions, we feel especially clearly: the Lord is with us. 'This is our wall, this is the fence, this is the strengthening, this is the haven and shelter!' as Saint John Chrysostom said.
Feeling acute pain from everything that is happening, our hearts are comforted and warmed by the fact that Christ has not forsaken His Church or our God-loving people. He fortifies those who, in spite of pressure and temptations, do not betray their faith. Who stand for the truth and expose sin together with the Church while enduring many sorrows.
Yes, we are all going through a time of most difficult trials, but now is when everyone can accomplish his small feat — to show his faithfulness to God and His Church, Which is invincible. And if we remain with God and preserve faith, purity of heart, and the warmth of Christian love in it, we will surely sustain.
Our strength is in genuine repentance and ardent prayer. With this weapon, no authorities, no contemporary persecutors will defeat the Church of Christ, like both Pagans and heretics and godless people of the past failed to defeat her.
The Ascension of Christ is absolutely not a separation or a reason for sadness, but a call to spiritual height, to the joy of everyday life according to the Gospel. It is a reminder that our hearts ought to always strive for the Lord. No, the earth has not become desolate without Him; on the contrary, it has been filled with the joy of the fulfilment of the promises of God and with the bright anticipation of our main Meeting.
May the Lord fortify each of us, console the hearts, fill them with peace and hope, and help to worthily overcome all the hardships of our time.
Happy Feast, dear brothers and sisters!
All related news I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the Great Feast — the Ascension of the Lord!
Today, we remember how the Saviour of the world completed His earthly mission and ascended to Heaven to the Father. But, leaving the world by His bodily presence, Christ has not forsaken it — He has become even closer to everyone who lives according to the Gospel and aspires to gain the grace of the Holy Spirit. 'I am with you always, even to the end of the age', Christ told His disciples — His apostles — and through them, He said it to all of us.
Today, when dark clouds of enmity and hatred have rolled in over our country, when the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church is living through constant humiliations, oppressions, and overt persecutions, we feel especially clearly: the Lord is with us. 'This is our wall, this is the fence, this is the strengthening, this is the haven and shelter!' as Saint John Chrysostom said.
Feeling acute pain from everything that is happening, our hearts are comforted and warmed by the fact that Christ has not forsaken His Church or our God-loving people. He fortifies those who, in spite of pressure and temptations, do not betray their faith. Who stand for the truth and expose sin together with the Church while enduring many sorrows.
Yes, we are all going through a time of most difficult trials, but now is when everyone can accomplish his small feat — to show his faithfulness to God and His Church, Which is invincible. And if we remain with God and preserve faith, purity of heart, and the warmth of Christian love in it, we will surely sustain.
Our strength is in genuine repentance and ardent prayer. With this weapon, no authorities, no contemporary persecutors will defeat the Church of Christ, like both Pagans and heretics and godless people of the past failed to defeat her.
The Ascension of Christ is absolutely not a separation or a reason for sadness, but a call to spiritual height, to the joy of everyday life according to the Gospel. It is a reminder that our hearts ought to always strive for the Lord. No, the earth has not become desolate without Him; on the contrary, it has been filled with the joy of the fulfilment of the promises of God and with the bright anticipation of our main Meeting.
May the Lord fortify each of us, console the hearts, fill them with peace and hope, and help to worthily overcome all the hardships of our time.
Happy Feast, dear brothers and sisters!
