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His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine addressed his compatriots on the eve of presidential election. The message of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reads:

Dear brothers and sisters!

Dear compatriots!

We are on the eve of an important historical event, the election of the President of Ukraine.

All Christians should understand that the Lord orders destinies of the state, and the Providence of God will determine the one who would lead the country. However, the unknown and incomprehensible Providence of God is realized through us, the feeble. Therefore, we are called to promote that the will of God be done.

We call you to discharge your civic duty by taking part in the election. We must define our sympathies and vote for the one whom we trust.

I believe it necessary to remind you that the Church of Christ, the Kingdom not of this world, is the Kingdom of Christ the Saviour. The true Church is outside politics. Like a mother, she embraces all, despite the colour of their flags. This means that all of us, members of the Church – the Body of Christ – should have a civic stand of our own. All Christians are entitled to vote for the one whom they consider worthy of being the leader of the state.

While keeping our opinion open, we should remember that freedom is combined with responsibility. When voting for a candidate, we share his or her responsibility for the future of the country. Therefore, before determining their choice, Christians should appreciate the candidate proceeding from the interests of our Church and our people.

We call all of you to make your choice after sincere prayers. We place our hope upon the Lord, by Whose almighty right hand all states and nations, their past, present and future are being uphold.

Let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, that we, being children of the Church, should accept returns of the elections with humility, recalling St. Paul’s words: “For there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom 13:1). At the same time, God grants us the right to choose whom to place as an authority.

Let us place our hopes upon God for the election of the one who would become a worthy successor of the great Kievan sovereign rulers, the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir and Princess Olga.

+ Vladimir

Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine

Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church