UOC (MP) Primate asks Savchenko to stop hunger strike
UOC (MP) Metropolitan Onufriy called on the Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadiya Savchenko to stop the hunger strike.
It was reported this Monday bySavchenko’s lawyers on Twitter.
Nadiya refused, according to Ukrayinska Pravda.
Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine
- 09.01.2015 MP of Ukraine NadiyaSavchenko
Dear MsSavchenko!
On these festive days, when the Orthodox plenitude celebrates the Nativity of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ, let me greet you from pure heart on this grand feast, this great mystery of godliness. The Son of God came to earth as man for the sake of salvation of all people, to redeem us from sin and deliver from eternal perdition. Now God became man so that man became God by grace and inherited the eternal life.
I’ve learnt from your colleagues and everyone who cares about your life and health about your more than twenty-day hunger strike as a protest against illegal imprisonment and charges brought against you. You are a courageous person, but inasmuch asprolonged hunger strike harms your life and health, I call you to stop the hunger strike for the sake of yourself, all your family and dear ones, our Motherland.
Every person, and especially a Christian, has to be aware that the earthly life and health are granted to man by mercy of the Creator so that we used them for our salvation. The Holy Church admonishes us that our body demands our attention along with the soul and we shall take care of it, give all it needs for normal functioning as the body is the temple of the soul (1 Cor. 3:16) and each of us will report to our Heavenly Father how we treated it during our lifetime. Therefore we are to value our life and take care of our health and thank God that we are capable to glorify him with our life.
Being worried about your life and health, I call on you once again, dear MsNadiyaSavchenko, not to neglect your God-granted life and to stop your hunger strike.
Glorifying the newborn Infant Christ, we lift our augmented prayers to All-Merciful Lord God that He may grant you the soonest release and health, strength, patience and courage.
Respectfully,
+Onyphriy
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine
