Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine published a lengthy and strongly worded reflection on social media in which he connected the feast of the Nativity of Christ with contemporary moral and spiritual challenges, drawing sharp parallels between the biblical figure of King Herod and what he described as the ideology of the so called “Russian world.”
Honoring the feast of Christmas, Metropolitan Epifaniy noted that the Church hears not only the joyful testimony of the shepherds and the Magi, who witnessed the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, but also the account of Herod’s fear and cruelty.
“Alongside the joy of those who received confirmation of the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies about the coming of the Messiah Savior, we also hear of the rage of Herod,” he wrote, recalling how the king, once his deception failed, “sent murderers to destroy all the infants in Bethlehem and its surroundings,” hoping to kill the Child who frightened him.
The Metropolitan explained that Herod’s fear stemmed from his illegitimate rule. “He was not a lawful king, but a usurper,” Epifaniy said, emphasizing that Herod seized power through cunning and deceit and therefore lived in constant fear of losing his throne. This fear, he added, drove Herod to commit numerous crimes, including the execution of members of his own family.
According to Metropolitan Epifaniy, Herod viewed the newborn Messiah not as a cause for joy but as a rival. “He saw in the born Messiah only a competitor in the struggle for royal power,” he wrote, noting that Herod’s outward religiosity concealed a complete absence of genuine faith. Had he truly believed, Epifaniy argued, Herod would have rejoiced, as the Magi did, at the fulfillment of God’s promises.
The Metropolitan also recalled Herod’s grand reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, stressing that it was motivated not by faith but by a desire to legitimize his power. Citing Christ’s prophecy that not one stone of the Temple would remain upon another, Epifaniy pointed out that Herod’s magnificent structure was ultimately destroyed, “not only ruined, but even each stone was broken by the conquerors.”
From this biblical example, Metropolitan Epifaniy drew broader conclusions. “More than once in history, outward, demonstrative religiosity has concealed the rejection of God’s truth,” he wrote, comparing Herod to later figures who outwardly observed religious forms while rejecting Christ in practice.
Turning to the present day, the Metropolitan drew a direct and forceful comparison between Herod and what he described as the ideology of the “Russian world.” He accused its adherents of imitating Herod by displaying ostentatious religiosity while committing acts of violence and destruction.
“They build grand temples and richly decorate them, perform religious rituals with pomp,” he wrote, “but at the same time destroy, plunder, and kill, bless war and the shedding of innocent blood, praise murderers and boast of it.”
Metropolitan Epifaniy went on to accuse this ideology of violating every one of the Ten Commandments, stating that there is “not a single commandment of God that has not been consciously, openly, and shamelessly violated in the teaching of the ‘Russian world.’”
He emphasized that God’s commandment “Do not kill” stands in stark contrast to the violence he attributed to this ideology, and that appeals to defending values are contradicted by what he described as moral corruption, lies, theft, and aggression.
While acknowledging that the mysteries of God’s providence are not fully known, Metropolitan Epifaniy expressed confidence that injustice will not endure indefinitely. “On the example of the tyrant and murderer Herod,” he wrote, “we can be convinced that retribution for sin and crime is inevitable.”
Recalling how the Holy Family fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath, the Metropolitan concluded with a message of hope for Ukraine. “We believe that with God’s help our Ukraine will endure, will stand firm in the struggle against Russian tyranny, until God’s judgment is carried out,” he said.
He ended his message with a prayer, asking God to grant strength and wisdom to all who resist tyranny and to allow truth to prevail over deception and evil.
