Transfer of the Ancient Icon of Archangel Michael to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has handed over a unique ancient icon of Archangel Michael to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This was reported on the official GUR Facebook page.
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the GUR, along with Father Kostiantyn Kholodov, who leads the military chaplaincy service, presented this relic to His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius.
The icon depicts Archangel Michael as a mighty warrior on a fiery horse. Each element of the image symbolizes the struggle between good and evil, and the inevitable victory of light over darkness, as noted by the GUR.
“Preserving our cultural heritage is extremely important, and we are honored to transfer this relic to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. May it continue to serve the Ukrainian faithful as it has for centuries,” emphasized Budanov.
Father Kholodov highlighted the importance of preserving and restoring Ukrainian cultural monuments in today’s context.
“For centuries, our artistic works have been plundered and destroyed. Today, we stand stronger than ever. May this icon protect all believers,” he added.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, noting that even on Christmas Eve and Christmas night, the Russian army did not cease its brutal strikes on Ukraine.