On August 13, 2026, as part of a pastoral solidarity visit to the eparchies of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia visited Khmelnytskyi and preached at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Eparchy. In his homily, Metropolitan Borys reflected on Christ’s words, “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” Speaking about the trials of war, human suffering, freedom, and evil, he emphasized that Christian perseverance means not simply enduring hardship, but remaining faithful to Christ each day — in faith and love.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I would like to thank everyone who has worked with us, as well as the journalists and our American friends who are here today. It is a great joy to be in this church, to hear the Word of God, and to be together. We also want to express our solidarity — the solidarity of Ukrainians in America. We also thank the Americans who are with us and who support Ukraine. We know that Ukraine is supported in different ways — through prayer, advocacy, and other forms of support. For you, for us, and for all those who are watching from afar or experiencing all of this firsthand — in their own lives, in their families, and in their communities — this is a profound experience.
We see this “abomination of desolation” of which Holy Scripture speaks. The Ukrainian people are experiencing it in the midst of this war. But Jesus warns us that difficult times will come and that history will have its fulfillment — His coming. And in today’s Gospel we hear the words: “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” What does this mean?
Without a doubt, we all bear personal pain: health problems, difficulties in the family, unemployment, poverty, and conflicts. And on top of all this come aggression and all its consequences. Yes, we must endure through all of this to the end. But we must persevere in our faith and love. When we have faith and love, we can endure. Christ is the Pantocrator, the Almighty. Christ holds all things. The Lord created us in freedom, in His image and likeness. He gave us freedom and the ability to choose. But we do not always use this gift from God as we should. The greatest evil in the world comes from the way human beings use their freedom. And in order for the human person to break free from this dynamic, Christ comes. He enters into this chaos, into our death, into the various circumstances of our lives. Christ took our death upon Himself and overcame its ultimate power.
To endure to the end does not simply mean enduring difficulties. We need to remain faithful every day — from morning until evening. Christ knows very well what tears are, what evil is, and what injustice is. He knows all of this. That is why our ministry is so important: it is a sign of God’s love.
Let us remember, when doing good, that we do it in God’s presence. We also do it to support one another and to preserve this certainty: the Lord has not forgotten. Is there anyone here who is younger than 34? Do you know who Volodymyr Shcherbytsky was? The older generation knows. He was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Ukraine. The younger generation may no longer know who he was.
Do you understand? It has passed. And so earthly evil passes away. But the end of history will be held in Christ, in God’s memory. Therefore, amid personal pain, amid injustice, amid war, our calling is to endure to the end, remaining in Christ, in faith and in love.
“The one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Glory to Jesus Christ!
