Ukrainian Orthodox Church head begs believers to skip night Easter rituals

On Wednesday, the head of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church urged clergy and faithful to forego night Easter services in parts of the nation devastated by war, out of concern that Russian bombardments would continue over the Orthodox Easter holiday.

Metropolitan Epifaniy stated in a televised address that he had little trust in a planned respite in Russian army shelling for the period of Orthodox Christian Easter festivities offered by the Ukrainian association of churches and religious organizations.

“It’s difficult to imagine this will actually happen, because the adversary is attempting to destroy us utterly,” he stated.

Since Ukraine established a separate Orthodox church in 2018, breaking centuries-old ecclesiastical links with Moscow, Ukrainian church officials have been at conflict with Russia. The majority of Ukrainians and Russians are Orthodox Christians.

The Orthodox Easter liturgy begins late Saturday night and continues through Sunday morning with a customary feast.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry also expressed gratitude on Wednesday for a different UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plan for a four-day Easter “humanitarian truce” that might begin on Thursday.

The truce was vital to allow for the safe evacuation of thousands of residents from regions of ongoing and potential conflicts, “particularly from the long-suffering” city of Mariupol, the statement stated.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, dozens of churches and other religious and cultural institutions have been damaged or destroyed. Russia’s efforts are being described by the Kremlin as a “special military operation” aimed at disarming Ukraine.

Epifaniy suggested holding the Easter service in the morning or afternoon and advising priests to prevent overcrowding at churches. The devout can also watch Easter service broadcasts on television or the Internet, he added.

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