Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, shared a powerful message on social media this week, marking the celebration of Divine Liturgies in two ancient Ukrainian churches that, as he described, have been “liberated from the captivity of the ‘Russian World.’”
“In recent weeks,” he wrote, “we had the opportunity to celebrate the first Ukrainian liturgies in two ancient churches, miraculously preserved since the time of the Kyivan princely state—the Church of St. Cyril here in the capital, and the Assumption Cathedral in Kaniv.”
Standing in these sacred spaces, the Metropolitan shared a profound sense of spiritual continuity with Ukraine’s historical legacy: “Each time, it felt as if we were entering our own St. Michael’s Cathedral: the same contours of the walls, the vaults, the domes. Even what has survived after a millennium of our turbulent history visibly reminds us of our Kyivan origins.”
He emphasized that the roots of the Church and the nation lie in Kyiv, not Moscow: “It loudly reminds us that it was not from Moscow, but from Kyiv that the land of Rus’ began. Here, in Kyiv, the foundation of both the Orthodox Church and our statehood was laid—at a time when the area that would become the so-called ‘Third Rome’ was still forest and swamp.”
Calling out Russia’s historical and ideological distortions, Metropolitan Epifaniy stated: “Moscovy—imperial, Bolshevik, and today’s ‘rashist’ alike—has always sought to destroy, erase, and cast into oblivion our true past. They stole our name—Rus’. They appropriated our history, our princes, our sacred sites. Generations of Ukrainians were forced to live under the yoke of the ‘Russian World,’ taught to believe that no other life was possible.”
“That is why they destroyed this cathedral and hundreds of other Ukrainian churches and monuments—to soon erase even the memory of Ukraine’s true past and to point toward the Kremlin and the idols of Lenin, saying, like the foolish sons of Israel who longed to return to Egypt: ‘Behold your gods!’”
Yet, the Metropolitan offered a message of resilience and renewal: “But, as has happened before, we have risen again from ruins and ashes. When over thirty years ago, on the shattered foundation of this cathedral, of blessed memory Patriarch Mstyslav prayed and blessed the cross, the restoration of the sanctuary seemed a distant dream. But less than ten years passed between that dream and its fulfillment.”
Today, St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral stands not just as a restored church, but as a spiritual symbol of the nation’s struggle and perseverance: “God appointed this sanctuary to be at the center of a new history—a history of struggle and of the victory of light over darkness. This cathedral is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the protector of our capital and of all who fight against evil. In his hand is a flaming sword, a symbol of the invincible power of God against the enemies of truth.”
Two memorials outside the cathedral serve as solemn reminders: one commemorating the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932–33, and the other honoring soldiers who gave their lives defending Ukraine from Russian aggression.
“These memorials remind us daily of the price of freedom—and the even more terrifying cost paid by a nation that submits to the Russian yoke.”
Metropolitan Epifaniy contrasted the spiritual identity of Kyiv with what he described as the false ideology embodied in the so-called “Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces” near Moscow: “Our symbol is the restored, gold-and-blue ancient cathedral. Theirs is a monstrous, newly built structure in green and crimson hues. Here we honor the heavenly host and true heroes. There they glorify the Russian empire of evil. Here we worship God. There they worship the idol of Russian statehood.”
He made clear that the “Russian World” is a heretical teaching incompatible with Orthodox Christianity:
“Every day, the ‘Russian World’ continues to kill and destroy the innocent. Its leaders, like blood-drunk pagan priests, offer more and more victims to the Moloch of Moscow’s greatness. Between light and darkness, there can be no communion. Therefore, there can be no unity between Orthodox Christianity and the heresy of the ‘Russian World.’”
Yet the message concluded with a hopeful conviction: “We believe, dear brothers and sisters, that evil will be defeated. Just as the Soviet empire fell, so too will this modern empire of evil. Just as this cathedral was rebuilt, just as independent Ukraine was restored, just as our autocephalous and local Orthodox Church came into being—so too, with God’s help, will come victory over the evil of the ‘Russian World.’”
Recalling the time when they stood on the ruins of the cathedral and dared to hope for its future, he encouraged all Ukrainians not to lose heart: “Then, it was hard to believe that soon there would be a golden-domed cathedral here. But it happened! Today, it may be difficult to envision the victorious end of our struggle—but it, too, will come to pass.”
He ended with a stirring affirmation of faith and hope: “Let this celebration, this remembrance of history and its symbols, serve to strengthen our faith and our hope for victory. For truth is with us, God is with us, the heavenly host is with us—and their chief, Archangel Michael, is with us. Glory to the Lord our God! And glory to our Mother Ukraine! Amen.”
