August 24, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
            Ever since the beginning of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, we have prayed in our services for peace between these two countries, whose origins hail back to ancient Kievan Rus’
            The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is recognized by most of the brother Orthodox Churches as the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine.  Sadly, Patriarch Bartholomew has created a separate church in Ukraine, which has caused a grievous schism.  Nevertheless, the majority of the Orthodox remain faithful to their mother Church, despite ongoing persecution. People of ill-will interrupt services, attack elderly women, and have brutally taken over churches and in some instances, injured clergy and faithful laity.

The government has arrested many clergy, including high-ranking bishops and has expelled the Church from the Kiev Caves Monastery, considered one of the holiest places of Orthodoxy in the world.  This is clearly reminiscent of Soviet communist persecution. The Church was given possession of the monastery after the end of Communist persecution and through the ensuing years, with its own resources, has restored and embellished this site of great faith and piety.

            The Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, has now decided to outlaw the canonical Orthodox Church, the largest denomination of Ukraine. Democratic countries remain silent about this outrage, although these are countries which support the separation of church and state, and which guarantee religious freedom.  We hear political leaders claim that they support Ukraine for democracy, and yet one of the most fundamental rights of any democracy is now being violated. 

            We ask everyone, to whom the Church is dear, to offer fervent prayer to God for the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church and to contact their representatives in Congress urging them appeal to the Ukrainian government to rescind this latest decision, to stop the persecution of the Church, and allow the faithful the spiritual comfort they so direly need during these troubled times. 

Asking your prayers and support,

+ Bishop Luke

Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery