The Celestial Hundred

For the Sake of the Future

For the Sake of the Future

You are holding in your hands a book about the heroes of spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ says in The New Testament, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). By giving their lives for Ukraine, for freedom and independence of our nation those heroes showed this greatest degree of love. They lived different lives. Some had a long life, others—a very short one. They were very different, but, like hundreds of thousands of the Maidan protesters, like millions all over Ukraine and worldwide, they were united by a common search of truth. The truth as a natural unity of verity and justice. The truth which is to be the foundation of life— state, social and individual life. Together with all the people of Ukraine they stood up against lies, against corruption and the abuse of people's liberty. For the sake of the future they literally lived up to what the lines of our national anthem say—they literally gave their soul and body for our freedom. This book is a gift of grateful memory of the heroes. While turning theses pages, reading these lines, looking intently into the faces in the photos, let us recall their feat, which has already been written down in the most glorious pages of Ukrainian history. I do believe that their heroism will inspire many generations of Ukrainians just like the glorious deeds of the cossacks and the sacrifice of the Kruty defenders inspire us today. And it is our duty to build the kind of Ukraine, the kind of country they gave their lives for. The heroes of the Celestial Hundred haven't disappeared—they have gone into eternity. That is why our duty as Christians is to offer our prayers to God for them. May our Lord grant His peace upon their souls in Heaven. Everlasting glory to them! Lest we forget!

Filaret

Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus-Ukraine Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Kyiv Patriarchy