On the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale incursion into Ukraine, on February 24, 2024, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine led a prayer for the victory of Ukraine in the refectory church in honor of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The Primate of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine was joined in the prayed by Bishop Yefrem of Vasylkiv, Vicar of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Bishop Avraamiy of Boryspil, as well as metropolitan clergy, chaplains, defenders of Ukraine, and the leadership and cadets of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University Military Institute, reported the OCU press service.
A joint prayer was also performed for all fallen defenders of Ukraine and civilians who died during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
At the conclusion of the event, the Holy Archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra addressed the audience with a speech.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy emphasized that the Russo-Ukrainian war has lasted not two years, and not even 10 – in fact, it has been going on for several centuries. After all, the enemy has always tried to enslave Ukrainians, destroy them, dissolve them so that we do not exist as a separate nation.
“Today we also offer our funeral prayers for those soldiers who are no longer with us. They sacrificed the most precious thing – their lives – so that there would be a unified Ukrainian state. Therefore, we have no right to waste what they fought for, what they dreamed of. We must continue to remember them and offer our prayers for them. After all, through prayer we testify that they exist eternally in our souls, and through prayer we show our love for them. Therefore, may the Lord rest their souls in the Kingdom of Heaven, and give us all strength, health, and resolve to continue this persistent struggle – a struggle that will result in our victory. Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Ukraine!” said the head of the OCU.
