Orthodox warrior to President: Protect the Church, without it we won’t win

Ivan, an Orthodox soldier of the AFU. Photo: a video screenshot from the Telegram channel +МИРЯНИ ЗАХИСНИКИ УКРАЇНИ+ (“Laymen Defenders of Ukraine”)

On December 21, 2022, a soldier on the front line recorded a video appeal condemning the blasphemous videos of "Quarter 95" and asking Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do everything possible to stop the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The appeal was posted by the TG channel +МИРЯНИ ЗАХИСНИКИ УКРАЇНИ+ (“Laymen Defenders of Ukraine”).

An AFU soldier named Ivan said that he is currently on the front line, fighting since the first days of the war, he is Orthodox, and there are many believers like him at the front.

"I would like to ask you to stop the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This is an appeal to Mr President and to the many people who go against our Orthodox Church. We are at war for our people and for our faith," the serviceman appealed.

He said the Russian occupiers "have come to rob, kill, and rape" and the persecutors of the Church "are doing the same thing, only from a spiritual point of view".

"You are inciting hatred in the heart of Ukraine. People, come to your senses! I appeal to you, Mr President! Do whatever is necessary so that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not persecuted. Without it, we will not win," the warrior appealed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added that the AFU wins thanks to God: "God gives us victory, God's hand is on us, God helps us".

The soldier was indignant about the offensive videos of “Quarter 95”.

"Why do I now see on the Internet how our Church is mocked? Two presenters from the “Bayraktar-News” programme are insulting and humiliating our Ukrainian Orthodox Church. They blaspheme and sacrilege... We are defending the Ukrainian land and behind our backs, they are destroying our Church," the Orthodox defender of Ukraine said.

He recalled that the UOC has existed since the time of Prince Volodymyr, has survived many centuries of persecution and is independent of the Russian Orthodox Church.

"We are Orthodox Christians of the Ukrainian canonical Orthodox Church and we will not betray our faith," the AFU soldier stressed.

As reported, “Quarter 95” refused to apologise for the blasphemous video about the UOC.

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