NEW YORK: 3 March 2022
Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York sends a fraternal message to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine

From the Editors: On Wednesday, March 2, 2022, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia sent a fraternal letter to the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church expressing prayerful support and an inquiry as to where to send aid being collected in the churches and monasteries of the Russian Church Abroad.

To His Beatitude
ONOUPHRY
Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine

Your Beatitude, Dear Master:

I extend to You my brotherly hand of support and Christian love, praying before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” for the cessation of internecine killing and for the speediest reestablishment of peace, concord and friendship between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian Church Abroad embraces Orthodox Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians and Moldovans with its pastoral ministry, not to speak of the local populations in the nations where our monasteries and parishes are located. We are all now united in the heartfelt prayer “For the peace from above,” for Your Beatitude, archpastors, pastors and flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for kith and kin, for our Orthodox peoples. Our archpastors, clergymen and flock are united in the fervent desire to provide as much help as we can to those who suffer, through the Ukrainian Orthodox Church You head. We hope through prayer and good deeds to help the reestablishment of peace and brotherly love in the lands of Ancient Rus. We would therefore be profoundly grateful if you point us to the most secure means by which our parishes, monasteries and various ecclesio-social organizations can provide such aid.

May the Lord, the Prince of Peace and the Savior of our souls, have mercy and reconcile all, and strengthen You in your many-labored service as Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church!

Beseeching Your holy prayers, I remain with unwavering love in the Lord,

+ HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia