Primate of UOC: Whoever loves God the most, loves their people

Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: screenshot from the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On November 23, 2023, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry stated that the person who does not love God does not love their people either, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

In his Sunday sermon, the Primate explained that love for God and one's people are connected: "A person who loves God the most loves their land, their people. And a person who does not love God does not love their land, does not love their people."

He explained that "God created the earth, God created man. If we love God, we can pray to God to send blessings to our people and land."

"If we do not love God, then we offend Him, repel the Divine grace from ourselves and from those who are near us," emphasized Metropolitan Onuphry.

According to him, without this grace, a person cannot live: "He seems to exist, physically exists, but he does not live without grace, because without it, there is no life!"

"Life is existence, plus such feelings as joy, happiness, peace, love. When a person has these feelings within himself, he lives. And if these feelings are not there, then he does not live but exists," said the Primate of the UOC.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Metropolitan Onuphry, a Christian helps everyone, even atheists and pagans.

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