Kiev, September 18, 2024
pravlife.org
In troubling times, we have to remember the meaning of the Christian life: to find unity with Christ, says the Chancellor of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Addressing the faithful in a statement of consolation and support during the severe times facing the Church in Ukraine, His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil emphasizes that no one can ban the celebration of the Liturgy or the Sacraments.
“The Church can’t be banned because it’s impossible to ban the faithful. And it’s even more impossible to ban the Heavenly Church: the saints who have been with us since the beginning of time,” the hierarch encourages.
With all the dramatic events, Church people quite naturally have a question: What will happen with the Church now and how should we live?
First, we need to understand the most important thing: What is the meaning of a Christian’s life?
Our main goal is unity with Christ through love for God and neighbors. This goal should always be the basis of our thoughts, words, and actions.
On this path, there are obstacles caused by the sinfulness of the earthly world. And we shouldn’t expect any benefits from the world—neither in days of prosperity nor in days of anxiety.
Therefore, any obstacles that the world puts in our way on the path of saving our soul should be perceived as something self-evident, keeping in mind the words of the Lord: In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33).
Now it’s necessary to realize the most important thing: No one can forbid us from celebrating the Liturgy, no one can forbid us from celebrating the Sacraments, no one can forbid us from fighting sin, repenting, and loving our neighbor.
One can be a Christian and fulfill God’s commandments always and under any conditions. This is confirmed by the lives of thousands of martyrs and confessors from the first days of the Church’s existence to this day.
At different times in different countries, Christian communities were banned, outlawed, persecuted under various pretexts. But, as we know, prayer never ceased, worship never stopped. Even in labor camps, priests served the Liturgy.
The Church can’t be banned because it’s impossible to ban the faithful. And it’s even more impossible to ban the Heavenly Church: the saints who have been with us since the beginning of time.
The Lord is always with us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? the Apostle asks and answers himself: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35–39).
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!
Similarly, His Eminence Metropolitan Bogolep of Alexandria encouraged the faithful last month, saying: “No one can defeat Christ, no one can outlaw Christ, no one can take the Risen Christ away from us.”
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