UGCC head says it is a Christian’s duty to defend his land during military confrontation

2014/7/23 11:49:42

Addressing young people in Zarvanytsya, Patriarch Sviatoslav said a Christian has no right to be the initiator of murder, but under military attack a Christian has a responsibility to defend his land and its people.

 


KYIV, July 23, 2014 (UBO) - A Christian has no right to be an initiator of murder, because it is always evil. But, in particular, in a military confrontation, a Christian has a responsibility to defend his land and its people in the ways and means proportionate to the attack, said Patriarch Sviatoslav, head of the UGCC, when answering questions by young people during this year's Ukrainian Youth Pilgrimage, held last week in Zarvanytsya.

 

“In this case, we do not want anyone to attack and kill us. We never fought wars of conquest and now do not attack other people, but we have a sacred duty to defend our country. Sometimes it happens that the wicked invader cannot be stopped other than answering with arms to arms and this is a tragedy,” said the patriarch.

 

He went on to say that the one who defends has the right to armed resistance. “He has a right to defend his land. I cannot speak about the right to kill, but a right to protection. And the Church of God will ask for God’s mercy for a man ready to sacrifice his life defending his country, even with radical means, and for the healing of the wound that the murder might inflict to his heart,” assured the UGGC Primate.

 

His Beatitude was especially touched by another question from the young people. The young pilgrims wondered what is more responsible and what is the greater expression of love: to fight and die for Ukraine or live and work for the family?

 

The patriarch said it was a tragic choice: to live for Ukraine or to die for her. He added: “I have never wanted any of you to face this choice, and our entire country faces it. I would like to wish everyone ‘to live for Ukraine’. We therefore ask the Lord God about peace during this pilgrimage, peace and harmony, so that the twenty year old boys lived for their loved ones, for their children. But we must bow to those who are ready for the love of their homeland to die for it. That is who we call heroes.”

 

According to the Information Department of the UGCC this year the All Youth Pilgrimage to Zarvanytsya began on July 19 and counted among its visitors not only Patriarch Sviatoslav but all the members of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC. Pilgrimage traditions include a procession of thousands of people with candles, going from the parish church to the miraculous place, where bishops, priests and faithful offer the Prayer to Our Lady and ask Her for the intercession for the Ukrainian people and the world.

 

Patriarch Sviatoslav’s schedule included meetings with youth; presentation of awards to the clergy and laity to mark the 25th anniversary of the UGCC’s coming out into the open; participation in the burial service for the Heavenly hundred, all soldiers and the innocent dead who gave their lives for Ukraine; and proclamation of the blessed Basil Velychkovsky as the patron saint of the prison ministry.

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*The article above appears through courtesy of the Religious Information Service of Ukraine. Access RISU at www.risu.org.ua

 

 

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