Archbishop Shevchuk warns Ukrainians against the temptation to "devour" each other

“Today, the future of humanity and the world is being forged on Ukrainian soil. That is why today the world looks at us, the Ukrainian nation, and asks: how do you celebrate Christmas in times of war? And we feel that today, at this moment in history, the core, the center, the place where the Son of God is truly and truly born again, is our homeland, Ukraine"
said Svyatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halit.

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) presided over the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. The UGCC celebrated Christmas for the first time this year on December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Archbishop Shevchuk emphasized that on this day, God descends to earth, but man also ascends to heaven. He encouraged the faithful to delve deeper into the meaning of Christmas. “The Gospel tells us about the arrival of the Wise Men from the East. Matthew says that when Christ was born, the Wise Men from the East came, guided by a star, looking for the newborn king. But what does the strange procession of wise men from the center of civilization to poor, forgotten Bethlehem mean? What does it mean to bring gifts of incense, gold, and peace to the newborn Child? If we delve into the books of Holy Scripture, we will see that the past, present, and future meet in Baby Jesus," said Archbishop Shevchuk.

He noted that David's Kingdom had always been on the margins of the great empires. “Wherever the wise men came today, invaders and conquerors have always come. And on Christmas Day, wise men come from there to fall down and worship the newborn king. They bring symbolic gifts, recognizing Him as king and God. The poor stable, the nativity scene, becomes the center of the entire visible and invisible world. Because where God is, he is the center”- said the head of the UGCC.

He noted that today, looking at this extraordinary cult of the Magi, at these symbolic gifts, looking at this human wisdom that opens the light of knowledge of true truth in the light of God's revelation, the Church sings: "Today is the hope of the nations to save us from the slavery of the enemy". 

“The face of the Child in which the past, present, and future meet,”
said Archbishop Shevchuk.

He emphasized that today everyone who hears the word Ukraine in Europe and around the world sees a Ukrainian mother and a Ukrainian child.

“Today, millions of Ukrainian children and mothers are, by force of circumstances, outside their homeland. But how interesting it is that in the Holy Bible, the symbol and sign of hope are the birth of a child... At all times, all nations, especially when things are difficult, expect a sign of some consolation, a sign, a symbol of hope, a sign that we are not abandoned, forgotten, a sign that even in the midst of the most painful wave of our suffering, God is with us. And this is the sign that the prophet Isaiah once gave to King Ahaz, who was afraid of the northern conqueror. Today, in the face of a small child, God gives Ukraine a sign of hope in the Birth of Christ" - said the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halit.

He noted that in the face of a Ukrainian child, God is today sending a word of hope for the future of the world.

The head of the UGCC extended Christmas wishes to the Ukrainian community around the world. “We're finally celebrating Christmas together! We are finally overcoming various calendar disputes of the past!” – said Archbishop Shevchuk. He addressed his wishes to all UGCC dioceses around the world in Melbourne, Australia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Curitiba and Prudentopolis, Brazil; the United States of America; Canada; Rome; Paris; London; Munich; Przemyśl; Wrocław; and Olsztyn.

“Today, from this place, from the Patriarchal Cathedral, we want to especially convey Christmas wishes to our brothers and sisters in Crimea and the occupied territories - where they do not want to allow Christmas to be celebrated at this time. Today we especially want to embrace our boys and girls on the front line, where today is perhaps the most dangerous place in the whole world", said the head of the UKGK and called for special attention and love to be shown to children, to introduce them to the mystery of the Christian faith through the Christmas mystery of God's presence among us.

Archbishop Shevchuk greeted all the faithful on the occasion of Christmas and wished them not to stay at home during the holidays, but to come and sing carols to their neighbors, relatives and friends. “Let this carol, which in the most difficult times was a confession of faith of our faithful people, and sometimes an expression of social protest against the invaders and atheists, become louder today than the sound of an air raid siren. May this joy that renews and saves fill our hearts today. Happy Christmas!" – wished the head of the UKGK.

To not “devour” each other

Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halit Sviatoslav Shevchuk warns Ukrainians against the dangerous temptation of “devouring” each other, projecting negative energy and violence on each other.

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UKGK) gave an interview to the Italian weekly "L'Espresso" before Christmas.

He drew attention to new levels of tension that are built on the personal experience of the tragedy of war. The neighbors don't understand each other after returning from abroad, the woman doesn't understand the man who came from the front. “Those who survived the occupation and liberation sometimes feel that people living in the relatively peaceful western region of Ukraine do not feel that there is a war” said the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halit.

When asked about how to build unity in Ukraine in times of war, Archbishop Shevchuk emphasized that Ukrainians should find the answer to this question together. “War is a tragedy that leaves us all deeply traumatized. We all feel the pain increasing. The first reaction to the crimes of the Russian aggressor is hatred"
the hierarch said.