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Archbishop Shevchuk choked up talking about the bravery of his priests and their wives, but his tears really began to flow when he spoke about reports of thousands of people, including children, being taken against their will to Russia and their passports being confiscated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis reminds us of the deportations of (Josef) Stalin,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are talking about children, women, people with disabilities. What awaits them? What future will they have? Certainly, they will die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel an obligation to be the voice of this suffering people and to be a simple witness to the reality being lived by our people in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never would have imagined being the head of the church in a time of war,\u201d he said. \u201cNo one is ever prepared for war except for the criminals who plan and put it into action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a long list of people he wanted to thank, Archbishop Shevchuk singled out Pope Francis, especially for his decision to lead a global consecration of the world, Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 25 March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consecration was important, he said, because \u201cbefore our eyes there is a battle, an apocalyptic battle, between good and evil.\u201d Many Orthodox Christians called him to thank him for the pope\u2019s prayer of consecration, he added.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This consecration to our Mother who crushed the head of the ancient dragon, this strong presence of the Mother of God among us, is very important for us,\u201d said the archbishop, who led a simultaneous consecration at the Cathedral of the Mother of God in Zarvanytsia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"