The full text of his speech is published on the official website of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s military resistance against the Russian aggression has been ongoing for a month now. However, the underlying truth is that Ukrainians were destined to put to an end the fight against Russian imperial tyranny, which began more than a century ago. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free " (John 8:32), says Christ to his disciples and to all mankind, urging all of us to live to live for righteousness, "said Epiphanius.
He noted that during the last month of full-fledged war that Russia launched in Ukraine, as well as during the previous eight years of Russia's undeclared war against Ukraine, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine had always said that the truth is on the side of Ukraine and Ukrainian people.
"And where there is truth, there is God. And where there is God, there is victory!" - said the Metropolitan.
Epiphanius added that Ukrainians strongly believe in victory and stand united with mutual support and sacrifice, which is manifested in defending our land with weapons in hand and in serving others.
“We are contributing to our victory with fervent prayer in our temples every day, every hour, from hundreds of thousands and millions of hearts to God and the saints. This is a prayer for the Ukrainian army and our country, for those who are suffering from the shelling of Russian terrorists. Our prayer is for victory, justice and peace for Ukraine. Our prayer is for eternal peace in the Kingdom of Heaven for the souls of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians whose lives were taken by Russian murderers", - the Metropolitan said.
He also reminded the appeal of the Holy Synod to the brothers and sisters of the Moscow Patriarchate to unite in the Orthodox Church of Ukraine!
"Don't wait until Moscow gives you permission or instructions. The Russian military is shelling you and your families with the deceptive blessing from Russian Orthodox Church leader Kirill. He gave his blessing on the crimes of the Russian army in Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and dozens of other cities and villages of Ukraine", - Epiphanius said.
Russian Orthodox Church alleges gay pride parades were part of the reason for Ukraine war
According to Epiphanius many communities and a number of monasteries in different regions of Ukraine have already voluntarily and consciously fulfilled their canonical duty and adhered to the Tomos on Autocephaly for the Ukrainian Church.
Earlier the Metropolitan Epiphanius appealed to the patriarch of Russian Ortodox Church Kirill to bring back to Russia the bodies of Russian soldiers killed in combat in Ukraine.