Address of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych
26.02.2010
Honorable Mr. President!
We heartily congratulate You on Your election to the office of the President of Ukraine.
“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (2 John 1: 3).
The Lord has manifested His sacred will through the expression of will of the people of Ukraine. It is by the Lord’s hand that you have been installed to serve the many-million and multi-national people of Ukraine.
We know You as a believer and therefore we hope that You will be a worthy successor of the cause of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir – the Baptiser of Rus, Holy and Right-Believing Prince Yaroslav the Wise – the enlightener and builder of St. Sophia Cathedral, hetmans Petro Sagaydachnyy and Bohdan Khmelnytskyy – the defentders of the Holy Orthodoxy and the unity of our people.
Our firm conviction is that the President of Ukraine and all the levels of authorities are to be an example of the selfless service to the people and the state.
We are looking for the fruitful development of the state-church relations in the matter of defense of the public morals and the upbringing of the youth on the basis of the Law of God. For that purpose we think it necessary that the subjects of Bases of the Christian Ethics, Orthodox Culture and the Law of God were introduced in the education establishments of all levels, from the kindergartens to the most prestigious universities.
The sphere of the joint patronage of the Church and the State is to be the layers of population requiring social protection and spiritual support. Children devoid of parental love, elderly people, remaining without support, are to be provided not the material well-being only, but should feel the warmth of prayer and kind Christian hearts of the volunteer workers and sisters of mercy.
The ones staying in penitentiary institutions should not be lacking spiritual instruction, which may become the first step to improvement and return to full-scale life.
The Ukrainian army needs introduction of the service of the military priests so that the military servants were educated in the spirit of true patriotism, love of God and their earthly motherland.
The Church hopes that the State will by all means support the development of the spiritual enlightenment projects on the TV, radio and other mass-media with a purpose of spiritual development and upbringing of the further generations.
The Church and the State have to work collectively over preservation of the cultural and spiritual heritage of our people, its historical records. The Church does not deny the necessity of existence of the reserve-museums, galleries, book depositories, but is sure that the Church values and monuments, exempted from the believers by the atheist power are to be transferred back into the property of their true owners.
In order that the Church could provide its own being, restore to the full extent the social service and help the people, we are expecting continuation of the process of restitution of the Church property that will promote the revival of the economical activity of the Church.
Honorable Mr. President! The great mission of consolidation of the Ukrainian society, of reunification of our people on the basis of our traditions and Christian values, mutual forgiveness, assistance and sacrificial service to the neighbor is waiting for You. On its part, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will expend its efforts towards healing of the wound of schism on the body of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy in the spirit of the canonical law of the Church.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church prays that the Lord granted You wisdom and force, reliable and faithful assistants.
We invoke God’s blessing on You and pray for our God-preserved state, its authorities and army. May the liturgical words with which the Church prays onto the Lord for You and all the state administration come true in the course of you presidentship: “And for all those in public service; permit them, Lord, to serve and govern in peace that through the faithful conduct of their duties we may live peaceful and serene lives in all piety and holiness”.
On behalf of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
†Volodymyr,
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine
Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
