Resurrection of hope | Ukrainian Truth

How to strengthen hope when there is so many things that feed despair and despair, and the initial good hopes do not come true? Is it possible, and especially during the war?

We find the fourth Easter in the conditions of full -scale Russian aggression. And although the event we honored now happened almost two thousand years ago, but the memory of it, awareness of its importance to us today, especially in the conditions of war, is necessary even more than it was in peacetime.

For many, Easter holiday is associated with a solemn service in the temple, with the consecration of Easter cakes, Easter eggs and eggs, with a festive family table, with a greeting: « Christ is risen! » Even in the times of Soviet state atheism and forced restrictions imposed by the Bolshevik dictatorship on church life, the Easter celebration remained that the persecutions could not be drawn from the consciousness of most society.

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But do not forget that external folk customs and traditions that adorn the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ are only a form, but not the content of the celebration. Even more – herself Easter of Christ as a holiday It consists not only of the glorification of the resurrection of the Savior from the dead, but is also inextricably combined with the honor of everything that preceded it.

During the week before Easter, we remember the suffering and death of the Son of God. We mention the betrayal of one of the close students. Let us remember the unfair court and the lawless sentence: « Let it be crucified. » We remember the suffering and death on the cross, the burial of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the tomb.

Yes We remind ourselves how difficult the path to victory over death was, at what expensive price it was chosen.

And at the moment when the Savior from the cross exclaimed the last word « Completed! » But he gave his spirit, did it not seem to everyone around, what was the bitter end for hope? The enemies of Christ rejoiced, His mother and disciples were crying in despair. But it seemed to everyone that death and burial of the body in the tomb was a limit that no longer has any human grounds for hope.

But, nevertheless, death could not finally overcome Christ, and the tomb – to keep Him as dead, in the earth. Christ is risen!

And so The feast of the Resurrection of Christ is the assertion of the truth that the victory of truth and good must always be hoped. There are no such obstacles and circumstances that would not have been changed. There is no such darkness and such evil that could not be defeated.

When there is a war, each of the warring parties is looking for allies. Allies of strong, reliable, which can really help and will not betray at the most difficult point. In the struggle of life and truth against the darkness and tyranny of evil for anyone who fights on the side of truth, there is always a real ally – invincible and irrelevant. Christ, who resurrected from the dead, who destroyed the power of death – he is the one who always gives hope.

God helps those who fight evil. And the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead, His victory – always inspire and encourage.

The tyrants of the past and their hordes of servants of evil seemed invincible at one time. The Bolsheviks and the Nazis believed that the criminal regimes they create are for a long time, and perhaps even forever. However, the Nazi Reich and the Soviet Empire of Evil were overthrown, although at the moments of their triumphs seemed insurmountable.

Therefore, I am absolutely convinced that the current Russian empire of evil is also collapsing, and its ruler-tyran will take a place in the history of shameful criminals, the memory of which is cursed by mankind. Because on our side, on the side of Ukraine is true. And there, Where is the truth – there God, the most faithful and powerful of all possible allies in our just struggle.

During recent history, we have repeatedly witnessed the fact that at times when it seemed as if evil were winning, it was defeated. From a coup in Moscow, which aimed to turn back the times of the communist dictatorship, only a few days before the declaration of the restoration of independence of Ukraine, which became the victorious result of the century of our liberation competitions. The Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, won because on the side of the people who rebelled against falsehood and tyranny, there was a truth and there was a blessing of God.

The Open Russian War against Ukraine has been going on for the twelfth year, for over three years it has been full -scale and especially devastating. These are terrible numbers. But if you remember how enemies (and not only they) believed that Kiev would fall in three days, then these figures became different.

Ukraine resists one of the largest states in the world, one of the most cruel and unprincipled tyranny. And one thing is that Ukraine is that it resists the aggressor for a long time and fights, despite all the challenges and difficulties – can not but inspire hope.

Our heroes are inspired by hope – known and still unknown, but the feat of which brings the victory of truth. Volunteers who carry out incredible work are inspired by hope. It inspires that every attempt of the empire of evil to intimidate and morally break the Ukrainian people only strengthens our spirit and our desire to protect our native land from the enemy.

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When the body of a crucified and deceased Christ was placed in the tomb, a large stone was stopped. On it the heads of the people put their seal. The burial place was surrounded by an armed guard. In this way, the enemies of the truth seem to have everything possible for the death of the Savior to be finally asserted.

But despite all the efforts of evil, Christ is risen! Ago I believe that Ukraine is our with the help of God and thanks to uniting our efforts, thanks to the support of goodwill people around the world It will win and be resurrected for your new, better future.

I warmly congratulate all readers and all our people on the bright resurrection of Christ! AND May the joy of this holiday strengthen our hope and bring us closer to victory!

Metropolitan Epifaria

Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine, the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine