Metropolitan Epifaniy: Those who once called themselves “brothers” attack the freedom of others

Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine reflected on the witness of Saints Boris and Gleb in a message marking their feast day, drawing parallels between the martyrdom of the first canonized saints of Kyivan Rus’ and Ukraine’s present-day experience of war.

In a post shared on social media, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine recalled that July 24 commemorates the holy martyrs, the right-believing princes Boris and Gleb, the younger sons of St. Volodymyr the Great, who were murdered in 1015 at the instigation of their half-brother Sviatopolk, known in history as “the Accursed,” during his struggle for power.

Metropolitan Epifaniy noted that Boris and Gleb were among the first saints glorified by the Church of Kyiv in the eleventh century and that their canonization was also recognized by the Church of Constantinople.

Reflecting on their witness, he said the two princes became victims of a political crime and dynastic conflict but chose not to seek power through violence or revenge. Although they possessed armies and could have fought for the throne of Kyiv, they rejected fratricidal war and instead embraced sacrifice, humility, reconciliation, and fidelity to…