His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry blesses believers to special obedience for Great Lent (VIDEO)

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry gave instructions to believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church before the beginning of Great Lent and blessed all to prayerful feat for peace in Ukraine, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

Forgiveness before Great Lent has two meanings. Firstly, a man makes himself ready to accept the forgiveness of God, and secondly, a man who comes into the fight, knows that behind him there are no enemies. Those people who are at war know that it is very dangerous to have an enemy in front and behind. Forgiving each other, we get rid of this threat. We have only one enemy – the enemy of our salvation – the devil, against which we are fighting.

"I would like to congratulate all on the coming Holy Great Lent and wish you success in the spiritual battle that we must do in this saving time. We bless our every believer in this period of Great Lent to read one chapter from the Holy Gospel. It is a prayer for our land, for our Ukraine, for God to send us His blessed peace.

Let each of us fast the best of our forces, and the Lord will accept this fasting. Let each of us be happy to meet the great feast of the Resurrection of Christ," said the Primate.

Earlier, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine has sent a message to the congregation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the occasion of Forgiveness Sunday and the beginning of Great Lent.


<

Read also

Romanian Orthodox Metropolis Warns of Fake Website Impersonating Church Hierarchs

The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas warned that a fraudulent website is impersonating Orthodox hierarchs to falsely claim ecclesiastical legitimacy and urged the faithful to rely only on recognized Church sources.

EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian Lobbyist in Leaked Call: Be Careful What Images You Use – A Lot of UOC Churches Were Destroyed by Ukraine’s Armed Forces

In a recording leaked to UOJ-USA, the associate director of public engagement for Razom for Ukraine issued caution to fellow lobbyists, saying the AFU bombs UOC churches and uses them as staging areas.

Wonderworking Hawaiian Iveron Icon Makes Historic First Visit to Japan

The wonderworking Hawaiian Iveron Icon made its first-ever pilgrimage to Japan, drawing hundreds of faithful to Tokyo and Kyoto for prayer, veneration, and a historic celebration of Orthodox unity.

Abducted Ukrainian Deacon Dies During Military Training

Abducted and conscripted Ukrainian deacon Orest Cherny, known for his devotion and sacred singing, tragically died at age 46 during military training, leaving a legacy of faith and humility.

Court Hearing on Expulsion of Monks from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Postponed Again

A long-delayed monastery lawsuit against a sanctuary faces yet another indefinite postponement after the presiding judge went on sick leave.

OCA Clergy Gather for Winter Synaxis Focused on Renewal and Resilience

More than 100 OCA clergy gathered online for the Winter 2025 Synaxis to pray, learn, and reflect on sustaining pastoral ministry and avoiding burnout through renewal in Christ.