Zaporozhye, Zaporozhye Province, Ukraine, June 28, 2023
Photo: hramzp.ua
The Zaporozhye City Council is set to vote today on the possibility of depriving the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church of all its church buildings throughout the city.
In light of the coming vote, His Eminence Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye published an address to his clergy yesterday to prepare them for this possibility.
Above all, the hierarch calls his clergy and flock to remain faithful to the Lord and to follow His example.
“I ask you not to succumb to provocations and other diabolical temptations, but to follow the canons of our Mother Church… I urge all of you not to grumble and not to despair!” Met. Luke writes.
He also urges the priests to consider how and where they might serve the Liturgy without churches and calls on them to protect all their liturgical valuables.
And in his characteristic fiery style, His Eminence calls on those public officials who would close down the churches to be honest before the public and simply renounce their Baptism and Chrismation.
Read Vladyka Luke’s full appeal:
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord!
Tomorrow, June 28, a regular session of the Zaporozhye City Council will be held, at which deputies should consider a proposal to terminate all contracts concluded with the Zaporozhye diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
They declare everywhere that society demands the elimination of our Church, in which most Ukrainians were baptized, a Church that helps everyone, even when it is openly prevented from doing so. Where is this society that demands our closure and the deprivation of our parishioners, their constituents, of Eucharistic communion? Does it not resemble the crowd taught by those who were envious of Christ, in reality—by misanthropes—after whose teaching the crowd shouted: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”?
The ideologists of this madness themselves, referring to the “demand of society,” think only of sitting down after all that is happening and laughing at the misunderstanding of that very “society,” “parting Christ’s raiments among them, and for His vestures casting lots” (cf. Jn. 19:23-24, Ps.21:19).
I address each of you in the words of the Savior: Forgive them; for they know not what they do (Lk. 23:34)! Everyone will receive an answer for their earthly decisions at the Dread Judgment Seat of Christ. Remember that “Hades reigneth, but not for ever over the race of man” (Canon of Holy Saturday, 6th Ode).
I ask you not to succumb to provocations and other diabolical temptations, but to follow the canons of our Mother Church. All decisions made in our world are only temporary, earthly, and the persecutors of the Church will have to answer for each of them before the eyes of the Lord. We are responsible for the preservation of our souls. And to those who turn to us with senseless proposals to change our confessional affiliation, we propose that they be completely straightforward, and not play to the public, and openly renounce the sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation that were celebrated over them in our churches!
Dear to my heart, faithful children of the Zaporozhye Diocese! Knowing the experience of the persecutions that took place in the 20th century, which were arranged by the communist regime, the experience of which is being repeated by today’s persecutors of our Church, I urge the clergy and all parishioners to consider the possibility of celebrating the Divine Services in places outside churches and not so dependent on the changing orders of the “servants of the people.”
In this situation, I urge all of you not to grumble and not to despair! Do not give the enemy of the human race a reason to find that loophole through which he can drag you along with him! Take a look at the host of Zaporozhye New Martyrs and Confessors, whose memory we celebrate on June 26. Looking at them, we do not see despair, only the height of their spirit, the power of their prayer, and trust in God.
I ask the clergy to diligently take care of their antimins and the Holy Chrism and the liturgical utensils in case the parish is forced to leave its church. Remember that we sing, “Let every breath praise the Lord,” and you can officiate not only in a beautiful church, but also in any place where priests and parishioners can offer their fervent prayers to God “with one heart and one mouth.” It’s not the place that adorns a man, but vice versa.
“Brothers, be together! Peace and good will be to you,” the Apostle John the Theologian calls. Even if you are forced to leave your parish on the newly created “legal grounds,” know and believe: The Liturgy will be celebrated! The most important thing in our time is not to be discouraged, but to stand firm in our faith, support each other and remain united in Christ!
Our strength lies in solidarity and unity around the Chalice of Christ!
God is with us! He is and ever shall be!
With love in the Lord, I invoke God’s blessing on you,
† METROPOLITAN LUKE OF ZAPOROZYE AND MELITOPOL
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