On Great Thursday Primate of UOC raises prayers for prisoners of war

On April 13, on Holy and Great Thursday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine led the Divine Liturgy at the Refectory Church of St. Anthony and Theodosius of the Holy Dormition of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

After reading the Holy Gospel, the Primate addressed the flock with the word of the sermon. His Beatitude reminded believers of the evangelical events that are remembered on Holy Thursday, explained the necessity of humility in spiritual life and the importance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist: "We receive the Body of Christ and drink His Blood, because it is the pledge, the leaven for eternity".

The archpastor especially prayed for the Ukrainian military, who are in captivity.

During the Liturgy, a special prayer was offered for peace in Ukraine.

On Holy Thursday, the Church recalls several important events from the life of our Savior: the Last Supper, in which the Lord established the Sacrament of the Eucharist and washed the disciples' feet, giving us an example of humility and love for others, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the treacherous kiss of Judas by which he gave the Divine Teacher to suffering and death.

Read also

Zoria: "Russian world" prevents us from settling in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

The spokesperson for the OCU lamented that he cannot gain full access to the temples and caves of the monastery. 

Clerics of Sumy Eparchy evacuate 78 residents of frontline villages in 2025

The Spiritual Rehabilitation Center at the Sumy Eparchy of the UOC in 2025 combined pastoral service with humanitarian aid and evacuation of civilians.

Sandu attends Synod meeting of Moldovan Orthodox Church

The President of Moldova attended the Synod meeting chaired by Metropolitan Vladimir of Chișinău.

Odesa Eparchy provides assistance to Kherson churches damaged by shelling

Financial support is aimed at restoring churches damaged by shelling.

Khmelnytskyi Eparchy raises over UAH 4 million for charity in 2025

The Khmelnytskyi Eparchy has summed up its charitable financial assistance for 2025.

UOC Chancellor comments on possible papal visit to Ukraine

Metropolitan Anthony recalled that the UOC rejects unionism in principle as a path to unity with the Roman Catholic Church.