Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador of Ukraine,

Your Excellency, Mr. Consul General,

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Gathered today in the Patriarchal Church, with the blessing of His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, we celebrate the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence – an anniversary marked not only by joy, but also by prayer, solidarity, and hope. A long period of struggle by the pious Ukrainian people has already preceded, for the imminent temptations and persecutions of the faithful, due to their love for their homeland, and for the need for a continuous confession in favour of freedom and dignity. Today’s anniversary is not merely celebratory, but is composed of various feelings of joy and pain, which coexist in the heart of your people, with the certitude of projecting the indomitable power of faith in times of great tribulation.

The thoughts and prayers of all of us, and especially those of His All-Holiness, our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, turn unceasingly towards the long-suffering people of Ukraine, who are enduring the hardships of an unjustified and barbaric invasion. The Mother Church of Constantinople, which has always been anxious and concerned with the affairs of the world, is following developments with paternal interest and undivided affection, and is responding charitably to the requests of its flock, praying day and night for the swift cessation of fire. The voice of our Patriarch has repeatedly expressed the wish for an end to the war, for the prevalence of a just peace, while at first glance, human efforts appeared to convey an image of a dead end. In reality, prayer projects the love and hope that springs from God, when human powers seem weak and diplomatic paths difficult.

The historical response of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the request for the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018 was not an opportunistic act, but the result of a deep pastoral concern for the spiritual life of millions of faithful, a proof that the Church listens to the struggles of its children. Today, this concern is expressed by our unwavering stance in favour of the cessation of the attack of the Russian army, and with the demand for respect for the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine. The efforts of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are extremely important, and the international community is obliged to stand as a supporter in this just struggle, not only with words but with specific actions.

Within the maelstrom of this tragedy, one of the most painful aspects is the abduction of children, a practice that violates every concept of humanity and divine law; as a contemporary “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning” (Matt. 2:18). We unite our voice with all those who demand their immediate return to their families. We stand today beside you, you who are the relatives of missing soldiers and civilians, offering our continuous prayer. The issue is not whether we belong to the strong or the weak according to the world’s estimation, but whether we are humble and striving for the truth and eagerly longing for the peace of God. We stand beside you with our prayer, which is the only power that can penetrate the walls of human cruelty.

We are following with concern the diplomatic inertia and the difficulties that prevent a summit meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to end the war, and the truth is that the agenda for such a meeting does not seem at all ready. The Ukrainian President accuses Russia of “doing everything to prevent” such a meeting. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov states that President Putin is ready to meet with the Ukrainian leader “when the agenda is ready,” accusing President Zelenskyy of “saying no to everything.” After an intensive week of diplomacy, in which other international actors were also involved, hopes remain in the air, and efforts seem to be hitting a wall of intransigence.

We fully understand Ukraine’s desire for security guarantees that will reflect Article 5 of NATO, which considers an attack on one member of the alliance as an attack against all. As President Zelenskyy stated, “This is the beginning of a big undertaking, and it is not easy, because the guarantees consist in what our partners can give to Ukraine.” This effort focuses on making the Ukrainian army as strong as possible and includes security commitments from the West, but the road is still long. The Church prays for the success of all efforts for peace, for God to enlighten the powerful of the earth to work for understanding and not for the perpetuation of hatred.

We pray for the repose of the souls of all victims of the war, soldiers and civilians, and for the support of the families that are suffering. Behind the numbers and the statistics, there are mothers who lost their children, wives who lost their husbands, and children who were orphaned. There are soldiers who at this moment are suffering on the battlefields, and the truth is that no one wants to shed their blood, while we could have peace, love, and cooperation. We are convinced that neither ordinary Russian citizens nor Ukrainians desire this war, which only brings blood and misery. Our hearts ache for every human life that is lost, regardless of nationality, because every person is an image of God.

The kingdom of God becomes our dwelling place when love and justice prevail. These one or two anniversary moments, while at first glance appearing to express a celebration, in reality project the need for deeper reflection and prayer. Our invitation is not to grow weary, not to let despair poison our souls, but to remain steadfast in the faith that the Lord is the final judge of history. Our hope is not based on changeable political circumstances, but on the unchangeable love of God, knowing that “blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matt. 5:9). Our own confession of faith today is the unceasing supplication for our Ukrainian brothers, with the certitude that “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

We wholeheartedly wish the noble and heroic people of Ukraine that freedom, justice, and peace will soon reign in their homeland.