Primate of UOC leads festive services of Baptism of Lord at Kyiv Lavra

The Primate of the UOC leading the services of the Baptism of the Lord at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: news.church.ua

On January 19, 2021, on the day of the feast of the Theophany, the Baptism of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Sts Anthony and Theodosius Church of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

During the service, the Archpastor was concelebrated by the abbot of the monastery, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, Archbishop Panteleimon of Bucha, Bishop Victor of Baryshevka, Bishop Sylvester of Bilogorodka, Bishop Mark of Borodianka and the monastery clergy.

After reading the festive pericope of the Gospel, His Beatitude Onuphry said the word of the sermon, in which he spoke about Theophany and its significance for the salvation of people.

“May the Lord help us, dear brothers and sisters, so that we, having received the sacrament of Holy Baptism, walk the path on which this sacrament has the most saving effect. And the path on which the sacrament of Baptism reveals us and makes us able to hold eternal life, this path is called the commandments of God. We must fulfil the commandments of God that uplift a person, make him noble, beautiful, great and lead to salvation in Heaven,” the Primate noted.

After the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, a religious procession took place to the springs of the Monks Anthony and Theodosius, where the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra led the rite of the great consecration of water.

After the festive Divine service at the Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry left for the Holy Intercession Cathedral in Obolon, where he performed the great consecration of the Dnieper waters.

On January 18, 2021, on the Eve of Theophany, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the rite of the great consecration of water at the Sts Anthony and Theodosius Church and also led an all-night vigil at the Refectory Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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