Major Archbishop in Ukraine says "In this war, this day and this moment, Ukraine is going through its crucifixion...We continue to be killed every day..."

 Daily Message of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, on their Good Friday, April 22, 2022, according to the Julian calendar:

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

Today is Friday, April 22, 2022, and the Ukrainian people are experiencing the 58th day of nationwide resistance to the Russian aggressor.

The war does not stop for a moment. Its intensity does not decrease.

 

 Ukraine continues to suffer both on land, in the air and at sea. Russian bombs and missiles are falling on our cities and villages. People die every day.

Looking into this national grief, into this trouble, praying for the Ukrainian army, which for us today is the only guarantor of life and the opportunity to see the light of day, Ukraine hears the words: "... he did not open his mouth ”(Is. 53: 7). These words of the prophet Isaiah today introduce us to the sacrament of Good Friday in Ukraine as we gaze at our crucified and crucified Jesus Christ, our God, who wanted to die as a man for our sins so that we could be healed by his wounds. We contemplate the pierced side of the Savior, from whom blood and water still flow for Ukraine and the world. The Church of Christ is always born in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist.

In this war, this day and this moment, Ukraine is going through its crucifixion, its Golgotha. We Ukrainians are being slaughtered like sheep every day. More than half a million of us have already been imprisoned and deported to Russia. We continue to be killed every day, believing it to be our victory in the war.

Looking at the suffering of Ukraine, looking at our Savior, we see that our God is with us and continues to suffer in the body of Ukraine…

It is impossible in the world today to be a Christian and to overlook the wounds of Christ in the body of the people of Ukraine. It is impossible today to be a Christian and not hear the innocent blood of Abel, which is heard in heaven from the Ukrainian land. It is impossible today to experience the sacrament of the burial of our Savior, who wanted to lie in a tomb for three days without seeing the innocent victims we find every day, wrap and carry to the tomb.

In recent days, our Church has made every effort at the highest international level - in cooperation with the Holy See and the UN Secretary General, and with the support of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches - to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine at least at Easter… But Russia has officially refused.

On this miserable Easter Friday, we rely only on God. For it is by His wounds that we are healed. This suffering of His is for us the source and power of victory. It is His life-giving power that flows for us in Ukraine from His pierced rib and gives us the strength to defeat evil and defend our Motherland. It is His death that is life-giving to us today. It gives us the power of love to even die for the Motherland, but with faith and hope for His glorious and three-day Resurrection.

This Easter Friday we pray: "God save Ukraine! God bless and give victory to our army! God, You who are crucified today, die and lie down in a grave in the Ukrainian land, lead us out of this terrible war. Give Ukraine freedom and peace! ”

The blessing of the Lord be upon you, with His grace and love of man, always, now, and forever and ever. Amen.

Glory to Jesus Christ!