President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainians on Easter. In a video recorded from St. Sophia Cathedral, a cathedral destroyed by neither the Horde invasion nor the Nazi occupation, the head of state stressed the importance of believing in a new victory and prayed for the country.
"And we are all convinced that any horde or evil will not destroy us. We are overcoming the dark times, and on this bright day, I and most of us are not in bright clothes, but we are fighting for a bright idea. On the bright side. And on our side, the truth, people, the Lord, and the higher heavenly radiance are," Zelenskyy said in his greeting.
The President stressed that as long as there is Oranta (the mosaic altar icon in St. Sophia Cathedral), there is Sophia, and Kyiv stands with it, which means the whole of Ukraine stands.
"On this great day, we all believe that our dawn will come soon. Oranta in Latin means 'the one who prays'. We have all been praying for the last two months," he added.
In his prayer, he listed Ukrainian defenders - the Armed Forces, guards, border guards, volunteers, and those who help them. He mentioned the civilians who had lost their loved ones to the russians.
"We have never destroyed other nations, so do not let anyone destroy us. We did not seize foreign lands, so do not let them seize ours. Save Ukraine, its right and left shores. At a time when it is beaten on the right and left cheek…. And on Easter, we ask for great grace to make our great dream come true - this is to have another great day. The day when a great peace will come to Ukraine," the President continued his prayer.
Russia has renounced the Easter Armistice. Ukrainians were urged to be careful on the holiday because the enemy could attack temples and do other provocations.