On Easter, the Orthodox want to give hope that light overcomes darkness / Article

These Ukrainian soldiers have to wait for the Orthodox Easter at the front line. For soldiers of all faiths, this is a moment of reflection. For Christians, Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

Ukrainian Armed Forces chaplain Oleksandr says he wants to strengthen and give hope with his words.

“I always say that the resurrection of Christ from the dead gives us the power of hope, that light defeats darkness, that God defeats evil and hatred. Now, when war, this hatred comes to us, to our country, to our homes, the resurrection of Christ gives us hope, courage and strength, because we too are now fighting and at war with the darkness,” he said.

The second chaplain, Yevgenius, consecrated the willing soldiers with anointing oil – praying for each one to be protected from all evil. And Andriju, a soldier of the Ukaina armed forces, for whom this is already the tenth year of the war. Ten years ago, fighting at the Donetsk airport, protecting Kharkiv at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, now again in Donbass. In recent years, all Easters have been spent at the front. Wife and children at home.

“We have been married for eight years. The eldest daughter is seven years old. The youngest will soon be a year old. It is difficult for the wife to raise children alone,” admits Andriy. “It is also morally and psychologically difficult for her, knowing that I am in a war, I can die, I can be injured.

I have been injured several times. Many tears have been shed, but she understands that there is a war and it must be done.”

The soldiers admit that the presence of chaplains is an important support for them not only at Easter.

Russia’s attacks on Ukraine do not stop even during the holidays.

The two chaplains also visited the soldiers in other places throughout the day during Easter. As rockets continue to hit Ukrainian cities, soldiers worry about their families back home.

“The chaplain’s words about the family really caught my attention. I am worried about what is happening there – in the back. It would be better if there were fewer rockets flying in the back. Here we hold the enemy, but we cannot stop the rockets with our hands,” says Ivan, a soldier of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The fight will have to continue. There are still difficult months ahead at the front. A hard war. But there is hope and faith in victory because, as the soldiers say, there is a will to defeat the enemy and there is support from the West.