Dear brothers and sisters!

Today, we remember the Saviour of the world, the gentle and lowly in heart Lord Jesus Christ, ride into the Holy City of Jerusalem on a colt, anticipating His voluntary path to Golgotha. After the recent miracle of the raising of Lazarus, crowds of people met Him with joyful shouts: 'Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' They spread their clothes on the road and cut down branches of palm trees, hoping that the time of their earthly liberty had come. But the King to Whom they cried out turned out to be not like what they had imagined Him to be.

He did not come to overthrow empires, retake lands, or subjugate peoples under His scepter. He came to destroy the power of sin and death and bring the peace of God and spiritual freedom to everyone. His throne was His Cross, His crown was a crown of thorns, and His royal power was in His love, forgiveness, and voluntary sacrifice for the sake of the salvation of mankind.

Looking at the common jubilation and knowing the price of human words, Jesus cries for them and for Jerusalem. How painful it was for Him, the Omniscient God-man, to see all of this and know that in only a few days, the same voices which sang 'Hosanna!' would furiously shout: 'Crucify, crucify Him!' The Saviour did not fulfil the expectations of most of His compatriots, for the Truth turned out to be absolutely unlike their earthly fantasies and dreams.
This Gospel story always rings out with special acuteness. It appeals to the hearts of every generation. It is consonant with the history of our people and our Church today as well.

After several years of warming, revival, and flourishing, when the Ukrainian Orthodox Church did her best to help our country to revive while herself reviving too — for the Church is not only temples and clergy but also many millions of citizens of Ukraine. When for years, she tirelessly baptised, wedded, confessed, instructed, served funerals, and visited those in need of spiritual care and support in orphanages, hospitals, prisons, in the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, participated in all good initiatives of various bodies of authority... In response to these labours, we see and hear today threats, attacks, cries of hatred, and demands to drive out, ban, destroy. The darkness of persecution, outrage, violence, and lies has again thickened over sacred places, temples, shrines, and the true Church of Christ herself. There turned out to be only a few fleeting years between 'Hosanna' and 'Crucify' — of which we were warned in advance by Spirit-bearing fathers.

But no matter how moods of society and its upper class change, our Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Today, He is also ready to turn everything for good and enter homes, wounded souls, and ruined fates — not as a cunning and imperious earthly ruler but as the merciful and loving Saviour, Who brings peace, light, blessed quietness, and forgiveness to every human heart. And everything depends upon us here — will we open the doors of our hearts for Christ? Will we accept Him with faith and repentance or reject Him if He does not fit into our scenario again?

Christ is always ready to come to us and correct everything. He is ready to suffer for us again and again so as to resurrect everyone who has fallen asleep spiritually. So as to strengthen faith and bring back joy to those who are tired of hoping.

Dear friends!

I wholeheartedly greet you on the feast! Happy Palm Sunday!

I wish all of us peace, unity, wisdom, and faithfulness to Christ and our Mother Church