Prayer for the Salvation of the Ukrainian People and State and for the Pacification of Discord and Enmity Within It
Lord God, Jesus Christ, Almighty and Ever‑Good Savior and Healer of ours!
We come to You with a sorrowful heart and confess our sins, faults and transgressions, as well as those of our fathers, grandfathers and ancient ancestors, who by them have offended Your mercy and grace and have turned away from Your bounty and generosity. For we have turned away from You, O Lord, and do not keep Your laws and commandments, nor do what You have commanded us. Therefore we suffer from great disorder, trampling and contempt by our enemies and hostile ones, and we are humbled and oppressed more than many other peoples, and we are despised and reviled. Among other things we endure the bloody armed‑hybrid aggression of the rulers and officials of the former metropolis, that is, our north‑eastern neighbours and their local supporters, henchmen and collaborators. This treacherous and audacious aggression, ideologically “packaged” and camouflaged, especially in the imperial‑chauvinist myth of the so‑called “Russian world”, including its pseudo‑“Orthodox” component. And at the end of February 2022 a new—much larger and blood‑destructive and devastating—almost genocidal outbreak erupted…
Great and Wonderful God, who feels for human malice and wickedness, lifts up those who have fallen, and raises the downcast! Send from heaven, by the Holy Spirit, Your mighty and gracious power upon our people; heal the diseases and the wounds of our hearts, souls and bodies, and raise us from the bed of weakness and infirmity. For we are struck by the relaxation of our thigh, for we are sick with falsehood and cause numerous transgressions, injustices and idolatry, paganism, witchcraft and occultism.
Quell the destructive, ruinous enmity, hatred and discord that are constantly stirred up by treacherous provocateurs and foes of our independent and conciliar state—both external and internal, various prejudices and intolerances, superstitions in the Ukrainian land, many of which were sown and left to us by our ancestors. They, in various ways, have grievously sinned and incurred guilt, especially through ruthless fratricidal killings, senseless and vile internecine strife, pogrom‑like reprisals and revenge with the shedding of innocent blood. In the end, each time Ukrainian freedom has been crushed and drowned. Now remove from us all pride, envy, malice, arrogance and multiform criminality.
Including shameful corruption and nepotism, pollution, contamination and destruction of the land and environment, abortions, drunkenness, drug addiction and other dependencies, the inflaming of passions, debauchery, licentiousness and all kinds of perversion and godless abominations. Also the mass‑produced and disseminated media content and low‑brow, primitive culture and art, and the modern twisted and doubtful secular‑liberal strategies and content of education and upbringing, etc.—all that, in opposition to the other, shakes, destroys and ruins the institution of the traditional Ukrainian family and personal and social morality. Thorny impurities of uncleanliness, intransigence and bitterness have entered our hearts; heal and spiritually awaken, revive and strengthen the Ukrainian people.
That at last, forever, the jealous‑fratricidal and self‑destructive “spirit of Cain” may be driven from our native land, and that we may mutually forgive and love one another: the different generations and regions of Ukraine, brother to brother, neighbor to neighbor, fellow‑countryman to fellow‑countryman. Moreover, despite the regional, linguistic‑ethnic, confessional, social‑status and other roots and present realities, including different political and worldview convictions, may we, as one body, humbly and contrite of heart, turn to You, our Lord and Ruler, and continually remain in You, and in Your Holy Word and in the true, conciliar and multicoloured Body of Yours—Orthodox and Universal. Remembering and honoring our Old‑Testament "holy beginning" – "holy root" (Rom. 11:16), at the same time called to faithfully proclaim and firmly "stand in one spirit, competing wholeheartedly for the evangelical faith" (Phil. 1:27): in all its fullness and divine power. Including, naturally, works of mercy, healing and the liberation of the weak, infirm and dependent. As You yourself, Jesus Christ, and Your holy apostles have done and taught us to do.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, for we are filled with humiliation and unworthiness even to lift our eyes to the heavens. Remember the mercies You showed to our fathers and forefathers, turn Your anger into forgiveness and mercy, and grant us blessed support and assistance in the many difficulties, crises and sorrows of these days, including those caused by the “coronavirus pandemic” and the like. Your beloved Bride—the Church of Christ—prays with the prayers of all the saints, righteous ones and God‑pleasing ones of the Ukrainian land.
Grant understanding and bless the Ukrainian people, especially those who stand in authority, and fill all with a true fear of God, and accordingly with the desire and longing to fulfill Your laws and commandments. That we all, as the conciliar priesthood, may well care for and tend to our conciliar Christ’s Church, the Kyiv‑based truly Orthodox, Evangelical and Catholic Church, which You, All‑Good and Wise One, have historically and territorially placed—similar to the Holy Promised Land—"in the midst of the earth" (Ezek. 38:12). In other words, regarding the Near‑Eastern region—"in the northern border" (Jer. 3:18; 31:8,31; Zech. 6:8): that is, at the crossroads of the Christian East and West, of different peoples and beliefs, cultures and civilizations. From there, for centuries—and this gracious process continues to this day—the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the Christ’s faith have been proclaimed and spread far to the North and especially to the East, and now even everywhere.
We pray and beseech You for the restoration in Ukraine of the spiritual unity of its God‑people, as it was in the time of Kievan Rus’, and for the reign in the hearts and minds of all the diverse native Christians—of Eastern and Western traditions and denominations—of mutual understanding and harmony, mutual respect and sincere love for one another. For our Motherland Ukraine and all its people, to defend and establish their welfare and good, statehood, independence and conciliarity. By the power of Your Cross strengthen the state and its people and our army, and protect us from conspiracies and attacks, aggression and hostile subterfuge, and drive these cynical and entrenched invaders beyond our lawful and internationally recognised borders. Finally, change wholly, especially the spiritual and socio‑political situation in this aggressor country "from the far north" (Ezek. 39:2), enlighten and illuminate their minds, and lead them to an unconditional acceptance of the fact of a sovereign and whole Ukrainian state, granting them a sincere and truthful desire to repent and reconcile with our country and its people.
By dismantling and abolishing in Ukraine the oligarchic‑corrupt‑clan system, including the governmental, law‑enforcement, judicial and other state and non‑state bodies, environments and structures, and by making impossible the legalization, legitimation and propaganda of sin, iniquity and lawlessness, call and raise up Your people—people wholly and sincerely pious, highly moral and truthful, competent, responsible and truly patriotic, of mind and strength and high spirit—and set them to the service of our Motherland and our people, including in various leadership and key positions at all levels, profiles and ranks—from the highest state offices to local and village ones. And grant us all, fill and restore us with the all‑competing power and grace of Your Holy Spirit—the spirit of wisdom and fear of God, the spirit of strength, righteousness and piety. And give each the fire of love and self‑less service for the good and flourishing of our Mother Ukraine—one and conciliar, whole and indivisible, and its people.
Lord Jesus, to You we turn: inspire and teach us to do Your holy will. For You are our God, for in You is the source of eternal and blessed life. And now, when an exceedingly satanic‑demonic "behold, darkness covers the earth, and gloom—nations" (Isa. 60:2) and the very "devil" is presently "in great wrath, knowing that little time remains for him" (Rev. 12:12), then in Your inexhaustible and mighty "radiance" and "glory", which now "appear over you"—over the righteous people of God (Isa. 60:2,3), in Your, Lord, true and blessed miracles and signs we will clearly see and experience the true light and life‑giving healing and salvation—spiritual, soul‑wise and physical. Grant Your mercy and generosity to the Ukrainian people, that we may truly and passionately glorify and convincingly bear witness before the whole world to Your holy name—together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
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We ask everyone to pray for our native and beloved Motherland—independent and conciliar Ukraine—and its people and the true Christ’s Church. Not only once a year (for example, August 24 at 15:00), but as often as possible: for instance, daily at 21:00.
Source: kyrios.org.ua