06 December 2025
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today, we celebrate the Entry of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos into the Temple — the feast which symbolises the beginning of the transition from the Old Testament to the New one: from stone walls to an animate Temple.
The three-year-old Girl climbs the high steps of the Jerusalem Temple without assistance from others. It is not just a child's courage but a response of a pure soul to a call of the Creator. By entering the Holy of Holies, the Virgin Mary becomes the Ark wherein the Pre-Eternal God Himself will soon be incarnate.
This event reminds us that the Providence of God often works in silence, unnoticed. Back then in Jerusalem, the world lived in its futility and did not notice its future change. None of the eyewitnesses realised that one of the turning points of the entire human history — another step on the path towards the salvation of mankind — was happening in their eyes.
The Lord acts so today as well.
We see it on the example of our long-suffering Ukraine. What just recently seemed to be an 'invincible system', built on lies, gain, total control, on an attempt to destroy the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and silence her ministers, has started to crumble.
And it is crumbling not because anybody from outside has turned out to be stronger but because any authorities that rise up against God and trample shrines have no foundation. They stand on sand.
And like water washes off dust and dirt, history will wash off this shameful period — leaving behind pain and disappointment for those who were blinded by years-long propaganda; freedom to breathe for those who are attempted to be silenced, expelled, or destroyed; and one more bitter page — to bring future generations to reason.
I have repeatedly said: it is impossible to wage war against God and hope for victory. If you want to live in peace, happiness, and well-being, go to God, not from Him.
The Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple reveals to us again and again: the greatness of man is in the fact that he, so small and insignificant compared to the boundless Universe, is capable of receiving God, Whom nothing can contain, in his heart. He is capable of great works.
Let us imitate the Most Pure Virgin in Her humility, in Her love and steadfastness. Let us build churches inside ourselves instead of erecting walls of division between us — brothers and sisters in Christ.
May the Most Holy Theotokos, Who entered the Holy of Holies, cover our God-preserved Ukrainian land with Her Protecting Veil, fortify us in the true faith, and give us long-awaited peace and the wisdom to overcome all trials worthily.
Happy feast!
All related news Today, we celebrate the Entry of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos into the Temple — the feast which symbolises the beginning of the transition from the Old Testament to the New one: from stone walls to an animate Temple.
The three-year-old Girl climbs the high steps of the Jerusalem Temple without assistance from others. It is not just a child's courage but a response of a pure soul to a call of the Creator. By entering the Holy of Holies, the Virgin Mary becomes the Ark wherein the Pre-Eternal God Himself will soon be incarnate.
This event reminds us that the Providence of God often works in silence, unnoticed. Back then in Jerusalem, the world lived in its futility and did not notice its future change. None of the eyewitnesses realised that one of the turning points of the entire human history — another step on the path towards the salvation of mankind — was happening in their eyes.
The Lord acts so today as well.
We see it on the example of our long-suffering Ukraine. What just recently seemed to be an 'invincible system', built on lies, gain, total control, on an attempt to destroy the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and silence her ministers, has started to crumble.
And it is crumbling not because anybody from outside has turned out to be stronger but because any authorities that rise up against God and trample shrines have no foundation. They stand on sand.
And like water washes off dust and dirt, history will wash off this shameful period — leaving behind pain and disappointment for those who were blinded by years-long propaganda; freedom to breathe for those who are attempted to be silenced, expelled, or destroyed; and one more bitter page — to bring future generations to reason.
I have repeatedly said: it is impossible to wage war against God and hope for victory. If you want to live in peace, happiness, and well-being, go to God, not from Him.
The Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple reveals to us again and again: the greatness of man is in the fact that he, so small and insignificant compared to the boundless Universe, is capable of receiving God, Whom nothing can contain, in his heart. He is capable of great works.
Let us imitate the Most Pure Virgin in Her humility, in Her love and steadfastness. Let us build churches inside ourselves instead of erecting walls of division between us — brothers and sisters in Christ.
May the Most Holy Theotokos, Who entered the Holy of Holies, cover our God-preserved Ukrainian land with Her Protecting Veil, fortify us in the true faith, and give us long-awaited peace and the wisdom to overcome all trials worthily.
Happy feast!
