Dear faithful!

We are coming to the close of the Lenten period which culminates on Good Friday when we commemorate the death of Christ on the cross. Jesus died on Calvary for us all, that means, for each of us individually. We form a community, we form the Ukrainian nation. The crucifixion of Christ was preceded by the betrayal of Judas. The betrayal was followed by unjust trial both before the Church and state. The plotter was the then religious hierarchy who opposed God and God’s word and delivered the Son of God to be crucified and disgraced. After being sentenced to death, Jesus suffered cruel scourging and painful and humiliating crowning with thorns. This was followed by the way of the cross during which Jesus fell to the ground several times until He reached the place of execution. When He had come to Golgotha, His hands and feet were nailed to the cross and the cross was erected. Three hours of extreme suffering, physical, mental and spiritual. Jesus suffers and dies. His suffering is associated with the last seven words from the cross.

By the first word, when His hands are being nailed to the cross, Jesus prays for His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Jesus gave us an example to follow.

Ukraine undergoes a period of post-Maidan euphoria. At the same time, little by little, it awakens to the reality of the negative fruits. This is in the first place the stirring up of mutual hatred. Jesus’ words are heard in this situation too: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” It is easy to set people against each other. Suffice it to disseminate lies and slander. If they believe and make certain steps, a mysterious spiteful atmosphere begets crime. When after much suffering their eyes are opened, they come to understand that they became victims of a plotted deceit. It is not a matter of people only but of the demonic power of lies and death behind them. A tiny spark of unforgivingness can set off a bloody fratricidal war.

If man believes a lie and in the light of this lie seeks to promote justice, the fruit is the exact opposite – injustice which, again, begets revenge.

The second word from the cross was spoken to the penitent criminal. Perhaps this man had sincere intentions and was involved in some action resembling the EuroMaidan in Kiev; however, he was not granted amnesty. He was abused, sincerely believed in a lie and paid for it with his life. He was conscious of his sin. He rebuked the other criminal who mocked Jesus: “Do you not fear God? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” The Saviour said to him: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

The third word was spoken to the Mother of Jesus and the disciple who were standing by the cross: “Woman, this is your son.” And to the disciple: “This is your mother.” Saying these words, Jesus gave His Mother to you as well. Receive Her by faith like the apostle by the cross.

The fourth word. Jesus said: “I thirst!” It was not only physical but also spiritual thirst, a great desire to accomplish the work of salvation.

The fifth word: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani!” – “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus took on Himself the sins and crimes of all people and paid for them. Sin separates man from God. Jesus, who assumed our nature, tastes the depths of abandonment of the soul by the Father.

The sixth word: “It is finished!” Jesus accomplished the work of salvation. The devil and sin was conquered.

The seventh word: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” Saying these words, He commended His spirit into the Father’s hands and died. The centurion pierced Jesus’ side with a spear to make sure that Jesus was really dead, and blood and water flowed out. The dead body of Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in the arms of His Mother. She endured with Jesus His suffering and death. In this greatest suffering She stood by the cross, firmly believing in God’s word, believing that He would be raised on the third day, as He said several times.

Ukraine is now going through a period of suffering. This suffering will continue, particularly when the juvenile justice system starts to work and implement the programme of removing annually 50,000 children according to the Paris model. The Ukrainian parents could have been saved from this suffering. Thousands of parents will suffer deep pain and despair when their children will be removed from them, as is the case in many countries of the European Union. The new laws have already paved the way for that all. Moreover, one of the bills provides that if the parents whose children have been stolen from them refuse to pay maintenance for their children to the kidnappers, they shall be liable to severe penalties. According to these laws, parents will be forced to finance the abuse of their own children.

Will God save Ukraine from this punishment which the manipulated people have called down? God offered salvation through earnest repentance so many times, but it was rejected. It will then be hypocrisy if people say: “How could God allow this?” In fact, people themselves boycotted God’s laws and the truth, so primitive and clear, about gender homosexuality being a suicidal danger. The legalization of perversion brings down this terrible curse on the children of the Ukrainian nation and on their parents. These crimes against children and against the law of God are hypocritically called eurostandards, a europaradise, which is so ardently desired by the Ukrainians. They close their eyes and ears to the harsh reality which can be seen in the European states. If anyone tells them the truth, warning them that they follow the path of sin and trample down God’s laws, they hate him like poison.

Ukrainians, we ask you in the name of God: What should God do for you? Change His laws? Approve of homosexuality and child stealing and change heaven into hell?

Can people celebrate a joyful Easter if they refused the way of truth and repentance, believed in lies and follow a false path leading to both temporal and eternal damnation?

Besides the manipulated Ukrainians there are also the sincere ones who felt and still feel grief when the fanaticized crowd shouts: “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” The crowd chose Barabbas, a criminal, over Jesus. What is your choice? Do you join the manipulated crowd who condemned Christ and God’s laws? Or do you stand by the cross like the disciple John and endure with the Mother of Jesus the suffering of the Mystical Body of Christ in the Ukrainian nation? A true disciple of Christ who stands by the cross experiences together with Christ the agony of abandonment and perceives the demonic nature of betrayal of God and the enormity of evil and sin.

To speak about the glorious Resurrection of Christ without repentance, without confessing your own guilt, is hypocrisy and mockery of God. The only way for Ukraine to be saved is true repentance! It must call homosexuality a sin! It must condemn the suicidal system founded on the ideology of homosexuality. The USA has elevated homosexuality as its foreign policy priority. The EU likewise privileges homosexuality under the magic term “gender”. They thus destroy all moral, spiritual and Christian values. Homosexuality is inseparably connected with the stealing of children and their moral and spiritual devastation. If Ukraine refuses to admit this most primitive truth and wants to jump into the abyss, then it cannot blame God.

There is still a chance that some brave individuals will resist these deadly and genocidal lies, and thanks to their faith and sacrifice of their lives Ukraine can be saved at the last moment. Therefore once again we call on all sincere Christians: Stop on the way to destruction! Start to repent in earnest and call a sin a sin! “Unless you repent, you will all perish.” (Lk 13:3) Begin to cry to God day and night for forgiveness and salvation. Perhaps He will show His mercy. Make a promise to God that until the end of the year you will spend one hour every day in prayer for the salvation of your nation.

The Chosen People was sentenced to death. But through the faith of two brave people – Mordecai and Esther, the nation was saved. Both of them risked their lives. In another historical period, when again the nation was under threat of genocide, Judas Maccabaeus and a faithful few waged a brave fight against those who wanted to introduce pagan antilaws and forced the people to turn away from the living God. Those heroes saved the whole nation (see Maccabees). They achieved victory over a great multitude. God protected them and gave them the strength to overcome. They purged the nation of all traitors. They even killed the chief priest who betrayed God and the people and was the major stumbling block to the common people.

We call again for spiritual mobilization of those Christians who have so far been indifferent. Let us express our thanks to all who are grieved by spiritual blindness and by the fate of those who have believed in lies and obstinately reject repentance.

Let us express our thanks to all the faithful for their perseverance in prayer, especially for the prayer guards during which they cry to God for the salvation of Ukraine for one hour every day. May your example be followed by other Christians as well! Then there is hope that owing to your suffering, perseverance and faith God will remove the traitors, show His mercy to the Ukrainian nation and raise it to life.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

On behalf of the Bishops’ Synod,