Synod calls on believers to follow the words of Christ in church conflicts

On September 25, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has called on believers to remember love for their enemies in church conflicts.

In their statement, the Holy Synod of the UOC emphasized that "the Lord has blessed us to live in a time that particularly needs living faith filled with love."

"In the face of massive violations of state legislation and international norms on human rights and freedoms, Ukrainian Orthodox Church believers often ask: How should Orthodox Christians respond to these challenges? The answer is given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: 'Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you' (Matthew 5:44)," the statement reads.

The hierarchs of the UOC stressed that "by entrusting their church life to God, a Christian should demonstrate love and kindness to others, not just in words or language but in deeds and truth, especially in times of a deficit of these qualities."

The Synod also reminded that "in complicated historical periods of church history, Christian love and kindness in response to all forms of evil have changed the world and raised the Church to new heights of prosperity."

"Therefore, even now, in our concerns for the future of the Church, each of us should focus not on confrontations with people who are hostile to us but on effective testimony to Christ and His Church, reflecting in our words and actions the very God who is Love," emphasized the Synod in its statement.

Earlier, the UOC Synod stated that the initiators and executors of church raids are enemies of Ukraine.