His Beatitude officiates Divine Liturgy on the day of his episcopal consecration

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry on the 32nd anniversary of his episcopal consecration. Photo: UOC

On December 9, 2022, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the hierarchal consecration of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the website of the UOC reports.

The solemn divine service in the church in honor of the Monks Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

The primate was concelebrated by Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl, abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the UOC, bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the clergy of the monastery and guests in the priesthood.

The abbesses of the UOC convents, sisters of mercy, students of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary also prayed at the service. Liturgical chants were performed by the Metropolitan Choir under the direction of Archimandrite Geronty (Borysevych) and the choir of the Kyiv Theological Schools under the direction of Archimandrite Roman (Podlubniak).

At the liturgy, prayers were offered for peace on Ukrainian soil; for conquering the enemy; for the Lord to look upon His people and preserve the destitute and those who have lost their homes; for God's blessing to people of good will who help those in need. The Primate asked God for mercy to the Ukrainian people, so that the Lord would make the power wiser, strengthen the courage of the soldiers, free the captives, heal the sick and shelter those who were deprived of their homes. Also, the living and deceased bishops who participated in the episcopal consecration of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry were especially commemorated prayerfully.

After the dismissal, His Beatitude the Archpastor was proclaimed many years. Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna read out a congratulatory speech to the Primate from the Holy Synod of the UOC. His Beatitude Vladyka thanked for the greeting and expressed gratitude to the entire flock for patience and prayers.

Then the Primate blessed everyone and received congratulations from the UOC faithful.

The future Primate of the UOC, then Archimandrite Onuphry (Berezovsky), was ordained Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna on December 9, 1990.

As the UOJ reported, in 2021 Metropolitan Onuphry was recognized as the most influential spiritual leader in Ukraine.

Read also