The Head of the UGCC: With a heavy heart, we acknowledge the degradation of ecclesiastical life in Russia

This was stated by the Head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav, in his video message, as reported by the Information Department of the UGCC.

"This week, Christians, Jews, and Muslims of Ukraine were astonished by the words of some American congressmen who believe that the Russian leader defends Christian values in the modern world, claiming that Russia is now the last bastion of traditional values, including the Church, particularly in Ukraine," he said.

"We Greek Catholics remember well how in the Soviet Union we were deprived of legal status and existed in catacombs, being the largest social opposition to the Soviet regime in the 20th century," added His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

According to him, the Russian Orthodox Church ceases to be a Church, transforming into a part of the state apparatus with peculiar religious ornaments.

The head of the UGCC explained that the Russian Orthodox Church initially labels collective action as satanic and declares a metaphysical war against it. Then it tries to justify crimes, murders, and violence against Christians, including the Ukrainian people, promising eternal life and forgiveness of sins to criminals for their misdeeds in Ukraine. Lately, we have been hearing that this war, initially called the national liberation war of the Russian people, has been declared sacred.

"Therefore, those who present themselves as the last defenders of the Church and traditional Christian values become blasphemers. By calling the war sacred, they commit not only a crime against humanity but also against the Lord God, committing an act of sacrilege," concluded His Beatitude Sviatoslav.

The Head of the UGCC thanked those who have the courage to face the truth, which liberates and without which there is no justice or true freedom, not only in Ukraine but also in Europe, North America, or any other country in the world.