The Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine congratulated the faithful on Christmas.

Metropolitan Epiphanius congratulated Ukrainians on Christmas

The Most Blessed Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Epiphanius congratulated Ukrainians on the occasion of Christmas.

Dear brothers and sisters! Christ is born! Glorify Him!

These words of joy and hope sound today for Ukrainian Christians who find themselves in various circumstances of life but celebrate Christmas in the conditions of war. Regardless of where we hear the Christmas greeting - on the front lines or far from it, in Ukraine or beyond its borders, in conditions of occupation or in our own home - we realize that the war is not far away.

Although we all feel the consequences of the war brought by the enemy, we still must rejoice during the holidays. We must honor Christmas, its birth, and tell about Him.

Our faith in Christ should strengthen us despite the difficulties. We must hold services and sing carols even in hard times when there is no opportunity to serve in our homeland's church. We must not lose hope when we are in a foreign land or are in search of the truth.

Today, celebrating Christmas, we must remember that Christ is always near us and blesses us. May the joy of celebration penetrate our hearts, and may our celebration be filled with joy and worship.

The darkness of evil may try to surround us, but there is always the Light that penetrates through the darkness. May Christmas remind us of this hope and light.

Let us glorify Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, and celebrate Christmas with joy and love!