Patriarchal Pastoral Letter on the 40th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Tragedy

Ex. VA 26/157

APPEALHis Beatitude Sviatoslavon the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster

Dear ones in Christ!

On April 26, forty years have passed since the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant – a tragedy that caused a socio-environmental catastrophe on a global scale and forever changed the face of our land and the fate of millions of people.

Forty years, according to biblical tradition, is a special period: a time of testing, purifying memory and deep rethinking of the path travelled, as well as the experience of God’s presence among us. Just as the people of Israel once travelled through the desert to the promised land for forty years, so we have borne the burden of the Chornobyl disaster for four decades. Today, we stop to reflect on this path and learn lessons for the future.

First of all, let us bow our heads before the feat of the liquidators. They became the living embodiment of the words of Christ: “No one can love more than when he lays down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). These people went into the fire and overcame the consequences of the atomic disaster not for the sake of glory, but for the sake of saving lives. Their sacrifice stopped the spread of deadly radiation and became a human shield for the whole of Europe and the world.

Today, as Ukraine burns again in the flames of war, we see the same spirit of self-sacrifice in our soldiers and rescuers. We prayerfully remember everyone who gave their health and life for our safety. May this day of mourning anniversaries become a day of prayer: let us pray for those who lost their lives in the aftermath of this catastrophe.

Even forty years later, we know only a part of the numerous eco-social challenges of Chornobyl, which are reflected in the fates of the victims. This catastrophe was not only a technical error – it was the result of the spiritual blindness of the Soviet system, which put ideology above human life, and false greatness above truth and moral responsibility.

The experience of Chornobyl shows that a person cannot arbitrarily and with impunity dominate God’s world. The catastrophe is a reminder of our shared responsibility for all of God’s creation, for the environment. We must realise that the abuse of the Creator’s gifts—polluting the air and water, depleting the earth, destroying nature, wasting energy and resources is a sin against God, neighbours, and future generations.

We are experiencing the current anniversary of Chornobyl in the conditions of a full-scale war, which destroys not only human lives, but also God’s creation — the earth, water and forests, turning them into a disaster zone. The enemy uses civilian nuclear infrastructure as a tool of blackmail. The occupation of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant at the beginning of the invasion and the constant threat at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant indicate that the lessons of the past have not been learned by everyone.

The world is once again on a dangerous brink, where human pride and irresponsibility can lead to new catastrophes. In this context, we call on the international community to take decisive action to prevent the recurrence of the tragedy, the scale of which may surpass the events of 1986.

By destroying the energy infrastructure, the aggressor not only deprives people of their usual living conditions but also directly threatens the health and lives of millions. The tragic experience of Chornobyl and the modern challenges of war call us with particular force to ecological conversion, which the Church constantly reminds us of.

So let us become wise and responsible stewards of the Creator’s gifts. Every unit of energy saved, every tree planted, every rejection of excessive consumption is our contribution to preventing new environmental disasters.

On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, the UGCC Bureau for Ecology initiated the All-Ukrainian eco-social action “Candle of Memory” under the slogan “Remember the past – protect the future”. Its purpose is to honour the liquidators and victims of the disaster, as well as to call for ecological repentance and active environmental protection in the face of modern threats.

We invite all the faithful of our Church and people of goodwill to offer prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased heroes-liquidators and for the health of those who still bear the burden of the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster. On Sunday, April 26, at 20:00, we will light the “Candle of Remembrance” on the windowsills of our homes as a symbol of unquenchable prayer and hope for the healing of the creature. Let’s stand in solidarity with those who need medical and social assistance as a result of the Chornobyl accident.

May the Lord, who defeated death by His resurrection, help us heal the wounds of Chornobyl. Let us implore the risen Christ for the gift of ecological conversion to be worthy witnesses of God’s love, to conquer evil, to cherish our common home, and to multiply the gifts of the Creator.

The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

† SVYATOSLAV

Given in Kyiv, at the Patriarchal Council of the Resurrection of Christ, on the day of the Holy Hieromartyr Januarius and those who are with him, and the Holy Martyr Theodore, who is in Pergia, April 21, 2026 AD