Primate: We must protect our shrine but have no anger in our hearts

The Primate of the UOC. Photo: screenshot on facebook.com

On April 10, 2023, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, addressed words of support to the believers of the Khmelnytskyi region.

"Dear brothers and sisters! Residents of the city of Khmelnytskyi and Khmelnytskyi region, believers of our Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church! I congratulate you on the Holy Week of Holy and Great Lent. On Holy Week we remember those tortures, which Jesus Christ, our Saviour, took upon Himself for us sinners!" the Primate said.

According to him, the Lord allowed the believers of the Khmelnytskyi region to suffer with Him. "It is an honour for a Christian to suffer with Christ. I understand that it is difficult for you and that there is a lot of untruth. But the Lord also endured the untruth," His Beatitude highlighted.

"We should thank God for everything. This does not mean that we should put our hands down and be passive. We must defend our shrine! We must defend our churches and monasteries by legal means," he stressed.

However, says His Beatitude, while defending our shrine, we "must not have malice against people. Even against those who attack us, who insult us and who offend us."

"We must pray for everyone: that the Lord will strengthen those who are good in goodness and give a spirit of repentance to the evil ones for a person to understand that when he offends others, he makes a sin, he offends himself," said Metropolitan Onuphry.

The Primate said that he "heard from Bishop Viktor how your hearts are burning with love for God, love for the Orthodox faith."

"Hold this fire of faith! It will strengthen you in all the ways of your life! And the Lord will never leave a man who entrusts himself to Him," the Primate said.

He called upon the faithful to love God and all people, "and the Lord of peace will be with us".

"I wish all you, dear ones, to wait for the glorious and bright Resurrection of Christ, the victory of Life over death. Christ is with us! He was, He is and He will be!" resumed the Primate of the UOC.

Earlier, in his Sunday sermon, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry said that the Lord entered Jerusalem as the victor over death, but humbly, and the time is coming when the Lord will come again to earth, but no longer to save the human race but to make his righteous judgment.

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