Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv issued a powerful message on social media on the feast of St Catherine the Great Martyr, commemorating both the saint and the 310th anniversary of the consecration of the historic Cathedral of St Catherine in Chernihiv. The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine also honored St Mercurius of Chernihiv, whose holy relics rest inside the cathedral.
“We traditionally celebrated the Divine Liturgy here today,” he wrote, noting that the cathedral remains “a true spiritual jewel and adornment of Chernihiv.” He added that on this day the Church venerates “these two saints, two strivers of the Christian faith – the great martyr Catherine and the venerable Mercurius.”
Metropolitan Epifaniy highlighted the striking differences in their lives:“They differ greatly from each other in their life paths, circumstances, trials, and even the era in which they bore witness to the truth of God… yet both are united by the confession of Christian faith, revealed not only in words but affirmed through their lives and their self-sacrifice for God.”
Of St Catherine, he recalled her transformation from pride in worldly knowledge to true spiritual wisdom:
“Before she came to know the truth about God and converted to Christ, Catherine was proud of her talents and tempted by arrogance. But after being struck by divine revelation, she understood how important it is not to seek the outward signs of human glory… but to care above all for spiritual wealth.”
Despite knowing the danger of persecution, “she consciously became a Christian and openly bore witness to the faith.”
Likewise, St Mercurius of Chernihiv lived through “decades of terrible persecution against the Church” in the early 20th century.
“He not only preserved the true faith himself, but through his service helped those whom God sent on his life’s path… He was not broken by the godless Bolshevik regime, did not renounce the faith, and was not deceived by propaganda.”
A warning against new temptations: pride, false teachings, and ‘Russkiy Mir’
Metropolitan Epifaniy drew a clear parallel between past persecutions and current spiritual challenges:
“In our time as well, the enemies of God’s truth, of the teaching of the Holy Church, and of her faithful children continue to attack—both visibly and invisibly.”
Some are tempted “by the pride of godlessness,” others by false doctrines, including the ideology of the “Russian world”: “It hides behind church vestments but bears deadly and bloody fruits, which we see clearly in the example of the diabolical Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
The Metropolitan concluded with a prayerful appeal: “May the Lord, through the prayers of the holy great martyr Catherine and the venerable Mercurius, protect us from the temptations of the enemy, keep us steadfast in the holy Orthodox Christian faith, and help us overcome the wicked doctrine of the ‘Russian world’ and establish in our Ukrainian land a lasting, just, and God-blessed peace.”
He ended his message with a final invocation: “Saint Catherine the Great Martyr and our Venerable Father Mercurius, pray to God for us!”
