Metr. Onuphry Says War Damages Humanity’s Spiritual State
The primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church said war wounds not only nations and people, but the spiritual condition of humanity itself.
KYIV — Metr. Onuphry said the ongoing war in Ukraine is not only a human tragedy but also a spiritual catastrophe that affects the condition of people throughout the world. In an interview published by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) Information and Educational Department, Metr. Onuphry reflected on the spiritual meaning of Pascha while speaking about the toll the conflict has taken on believers and society. He said millions of faithful continue praying daily for peace, as well as for the soldiers and civilians suffering from the war.
“The ordeal of war has been going on for more than four years,” the Metropolitan said, noting that innocent civilians and soldiers continue to die. He added that the suffering caused by war extends beyond national borders because “the sin of war affects the spiritual state of all people on earth.”
Despite the hardships, Metr. Onuphry urged believers not to abandon prayer or lose hope during what he described as a time of “great trials” for Christians. Referring to Christ’s Resurrection, he said the Church must continue responding to suffering with faith, patience, and prayer for peace.
His Beatitude also connected the current pressures facing the UOC to earlier periods of persecution and schism in Church history. Discussing church conflicts and seizures of churches and monasteries by supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), he called on believers to answer “hate with love” and “evil with good.”
He further warned against turning church disputes into political arguments on social media, saying Christians must preserve peace in their souls and avoid rhetoric that deepens division.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Onuphry called for humility and an eternal focus on Palm Sunday.
