We fight together, we pray together for Ukraine: Zelenskyy’s Easter message

"Today is a very special day, one we always eagerly await, celebrated by millions of people. Easter. A day that is a beam of light – especially bright and strong during times when dark clouds try to cover our sky. A day that gives us all hope and reminds us: evil has its hour, but God has His day. This is one of the meanings embedded in the history of Christ. About His earthly suffering and death, and about His resurrection, about how, sooner or later, but inevitably, evil will retreat, and life will triumph," he said.

According to the President, today these words resonate in every Ukrainian heart.

"And they strengthen our faith, which, despite everything, has not faded over 1,152 days of full-scale war. Each of us has experienced such moments. When it hurts deeply, when it’s very hard, and when you ask: "God, why is this happening to us? Strikes, explosions, gunshots, all this misfortune, all this evil. How can one kill dozens of people in Sumy on Palm Sunday? Don’t you see, God? How they targeted a children's playground in Kryvyi Rih. How every day Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Odessa, and dozens of other cities burn. When will this end? And when will silence be heard by our land, our people, our children? After everything we are going through, how can we not lose faith?” he continues.

And when, according to Zelenskyy, reason cannot find answers to these questions, you begin to listen to your heart, and something invisible yet very strong inside you prevents you from giving up.

"It guides you to where to find the light so you don’t get lost. And then you see the people around you. You look into the eyes of your loved ones, the faces of those close to you, you feel the embrace, you feel the support from both familiar and unfamiliar people. The support of Ukrainians. And you realize that you share the same values with them. And it is these values that have united us, absolutely not by chance, that united us on the first day of the war and continue to unite us. These are freedom, endurance, compassion, and humanity. This is God. This is His manifestation. He is in our people. And that is why in people – there is light. That is why in people – there is strength. In every action, in every small step on the difficult path, and in every word of support, in every word: "How are you?" "How can I help?" "Take care of yourself," he adds.

The President emphasized that Ukrainians know what they are defending, they know what they are fighting for, and for whom and why.

“And that is why every time, no matter how hard it is for us, we still do not lose faith. Because this faith is in each other. In those who stand beside you. In Ukrainians. In Ukrainian women. Faith that evil has its hour, and God has His day,” the head of state assured.

Zelenskyy wished for that day to come, and for the hour of evil to end.

“May the day of life come. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. A day that lasts for centuries. And we will be able to gather together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter. When we will all be warm, calm, and comfortable in spirit, and of course, well-fed. When everything will be as it should be. We have wanted this for all 1,152 days. We are united in this. Every day, and especially today, when Ukrainians of all Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same day. Together. We fight together for Ukraine. And we pray together for Ukraine,” he continued.

We pray, as the president says, for those who cannot be with their loved ones on Easter, for those on the frontlines with their comrades, for our soldiers, the warriors of light.

“We ask God to protect those who are protecting us. To strengthen the will of those who are now in captivity. For our prisoners, for all those who must return home. We ask for help for all those who dedicate their lives to helping others. To protect by intercession those who, with their daily labor, protect Ukraine. May God watch over all those who save, heal, and teach. We pray today for everyone, for our children. For all the boys and girls who deserve a happy childhood. For our fathers and mothers, who deserve a peaceful old age. For all our people, who deserve the long-awaited peace,” he noted.

According to the head of state, our people are enduring a very difficult journey.

“But I am confident that the key word here is ‘enduring.’ And despite everything, every morning we find the strength to wake up, move forward, and do our part. What you can. Where it’s needed. For those who are waiting for it. And the source of energy for us can be many things around us. The smile of a son or daughter, the voice of a mother, thoughts of those who are on the frontlines, or a memory of someone who shielded you with their body. We can find the impulse to act in news of our people’s victories, in our culture, books, poetry, music. And of course, we are inspired by the symbol of Easter and the story of Christ’s Resurrection,” he added.

Therefore, Zelenskyy assured, we know for sure: all the stones that are thrown at us will not remain ruins on our land, all the stones that fly at us, we will turn into a solid foundation for the future – a future of freedom, a future of peace, a future memory of what we went through and what we succeeded in.

“When in hard times, victory is determined not only by the triumph of arms but first and foremost by the victory of spirit. Our victory. Our spirit. May all of this come true. May God help us in this. May there be peace. May there be Ukraine. Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!” the president concluded his Easter greeting.

Easter in Ukraine

On April 20, Easter is celebrated by both Catholic and Orthodox Christians in Ukraine. This is the holiday of Christ’s Resurrection, which marks the end of Lent and Holy Week.

Easter is one of the most important and ancient Christian holidays, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after His crucifixion. This day symbolizes the victory of life over death, good over evil, and the purification of humanity from sin.

The date of Easter changes each year because it is determined by the lunar-solar calendar. In 2025, Christ’s Resurrection falls on April 20, and this time it is celebrated simultaneously by Christians of both rites.