Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, issued a heartfelt message on social media to mark Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance of Defenders Fallen in the Struggle for Independence, Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity on August 29.
“This is a special day of commemoration for our fallen modern heroes,” Metropolitan Epifaniy wrote. “We remember them, honor them, and offer heartfelt prayers for the fallen defenders every day, in every church of our Church.”
The Metropolitan emphasized that, for Christians, those who sacrificed their lives for their homeland remain alive in God: “For us they have not disappeared from existence; they are alive in God. The glorious memory of them, their sacrifice, and their heroic deeds also lives on, for ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (John 15:13). They are no longer physically with us, but their mission, their goal, their dream continues to live among us.”
He called upon all Ukrainians to join in prayer and remembrance for the country’s fallen defenders: “Remember today with kind words and heartfelt prayers all the defenders of our state who have fallen. They are all children of Ukraine, our compatriots, brothers and sisters in Christ. We do not know all their names, but each of them is known to God. Our prayer for them, and our continued struggle against the enemy, the occupier, and the aggressor, is our sincere gratitude for their feat, their suffering, their ultimate sacrifice, and untimely death.”
Concluding his message, Metropolitan Epifaniy invoked God’s blessing upon the fallen: “May the Lord grant rest to the souls of all our fallen defenders in the Heavenly Kingdom and crown them with incorruptible wreaths. May eternal memory of our fallen heroes live on. May their glory be everlasting.”
