This morning I received from His Beatitude The Most Reverend Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, a copy of his letter to the Bishops, Clergy and Faithful of the Church inviting them to come together for the Sacred Liturgy tomorrow, 22 January, day celebrating Ukraine's territorial integrity. We all understand the destructive character of the violence which has marked these days. His Beatitude frames his invitation to prayer in the light of one of this people's greatest joys since the Baptism of the Kyivan Rus' over 1025 years ago, namely the territorial integrity of a "greater" Ukraine, a key premise for the people's prosperity and self-determination as such.
In the above video, His Beatitude makes an appeal to all forces in society to put an end to the bloodshed, each doing his or her part to build up the nation. Let us hope for the best! Let us pray for God's mercy upon His people and their nation-building for the sake of generations to come!
On 22 January, that is tomorrow, I will offer Holy Mass according to His Beatitude's intention: for the Ukrainian people and the integrity and prosperity of their nation. I invite all who read this post and my Facebook friends and followers, if you can get to Mass tomorrow to do so, but in any case to pray according to His Beatitude's intention. All my priest friends, who are able, are kindly requested to add this special intention to their Mass tomorrow.
We place all in the hands of the Lord Who loves us and Who saves His people from distress.
How can people stand in front of aggression and not fight back? The opposition does not understand peace and Christ's teachings. They are evil and will not give up. To stand and not fight back is asking for massacres. This is not right! This is the last chance to get freedom and the souls that perish will be martyrs for the cause of freedom and justice!
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