UOC matushka: “Run to church and receive Communion while it's possible”
A priest’s wife from Poltava called on believers not to be afraid to confess their faith and to cherish the gift of prayer and Holy Communion.
Matushka Kateryna from Poltava recorded a video message to Orthodox Christians, urging them not to lose faith and to value the opportunity to attend church freely and take part in the Sacraments.
She reminded that in many parts of the world – in Palestine, Egypt, and especially in Niger – Christians are daily subjected to torture, persecution, and execution simply for confessing Christ. “There is another faith there, another world – Islam, Muslims,” she said.
Yet, according to her, the greatest pain comes from seeing persecution of Christians taking place in Ukraine itself, “not from outsiders, but from our own – from those who also call themselves Christians.”
“As a Christian, I believe and know that prayer is not a crime. And I want it to remain so in my country. For if we can no longer gather for prayer, soon we will not even be able to utter the word ‘God’ aloud,” said Matushka Kateryna.
She appealed to Orthodox believers not to let fear paralyze them: “For those who are afraid to attend services now – do not allow fear to block your path to God. And to those whose churches are still open, I say: run to church while you can. Receive Communion – as often as possible.”
In conclusion, Matushka Kateryna stressed that today is a moment of spiritual choice: “Remember – no power in the world can overcome the one who stands steadfast before Christ.”
As reported by the UOJ, in Nigeria, Islamists killed a Protestant pastor after receiving a ransom.
