Leader of the Orthodox Church in America

Dearly beloved children in the Lord, In light of the distressing developments in Ukraine affecting millions of innocent people in the region, I wholeheartedly urge you to pray for peace and the well-being of our brothers and sisters who are enduring this tragic moment.

I ask the the hostilities be ceased immediately and that President Putin put an end to the military operations. As Orthodox Christians, we condemn violence and aggression.

I offer my support and prayers to my brother and concelebrant, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, who has the most difficult task of leading his beloved flock in this time of pain and anxiety. I also assure my prayers to the other religious lead- ers serving in Ukraine who have the delicate task of leading their communities in these difficult times.

To our beloved Ukrainian brothers and sisters, as well as to all of you who are certainly troubled and concerned about these recent developments, I offer the words that the Lord Himself offers to us through His Psalmist: “The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps 29:11).”

May we fervently offer our petition to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to have mercy on us “for the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all.”

Yours in Christ, +Tikhon Archbishop of Washington Metropolitan of All America and Canada Taken from www.oca.org, the website of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA).