As is commonly known among Orthodox Christians, of late the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine has been undergoing increasing persecution in Ukraine.  And now it has been announced by the regime in Kiev, that the monks of the Kiev Caves Monastery, the holiest site of Orthodoxy in Ukraine, and the birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy, have to leave their home.  The Church has announced that they do not recognize this as legal and intend to remain.

We the monks of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville as well as the seminarians and our faithful feel it our brotherly duty to pray for our brethren in the faith, asking God to preserve canonical Orthodoxy in the homeland and in general, to preserve the Church throughout the world in truth, against its enemies, seen and unseen.

Many regard the troubles in Ukraine as a war against Orthodoxy.  May people come to their senses and cease to wage battle against the Church and its children.

Today, after lunch, His Grace Bishop Luke presided at a moleben of intercession to the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves, of whom the monastery is blessed to have a reliquary in our basement church of St. Job, brought out of Kiev during World War II just before the destruction of the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Kiev Caves Monastery.

Through the prayers of our venerable fathers in Christ, may our brethren in the monastery, along with Vladyka Onuphry and his fellow bishops, be kept safe and be able to withstand this terrible temptation