UOC Primate: Cross procession postponed is a spiritual trial

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: news.church.ua

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: news.church.ua

The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, believes that the postponement of the cross procession in Kyiv from the Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy to a "more favourable time" is a spiritual trial, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

His Beatitude thanked the vicar bishops, clergy, monastics and laity of the Kyiv Eparchy for their willingness to hold the religious procession with "spiritual enthusiasm and responsibility" on the Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in Kyiv.

But, His Beatitude noted, "today it became known that additional quarantine restrictions excluding the planned cross procession will be introduced in Kyiv from March 20 of this year".

The archpastor wrote that "by supporting the capital authorities in striving to improve the epidemic situation as soon as possible and offering prayer to the Merciful God about this, we are postponing the cross procession to another more favourable time".

“We perceive this situation as our spiritual trial,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry emphasized.

He called on the flock to strengthen fasting, to repent of sins and bear worthy fruits of repentance "so that the Lord will heal our bodily and mental infirmities".

As reported earlier, the cross procession in Kyiv on the Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy was postponed.

Read also

Primatial Liturgy of American and Macedonian Churches to be held in USA

The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) is set to formally recognize the autocephaly of the Macedonian Orthodox Church during a joint Divine Liturgy on September 2, at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

OCU activists accuse UOC of being pro-Russian due to the word "Orthodox"

The brotherhood created with the blessing of "hierarch" Viktor Bed' placed a photo of a person in a pullover with the phrase "We are Orthodox".

His Beatitude: When you fall, always ask God to lend you a helpful hand

In his sermon at the Liturgy, the Primate of the UOC urged not to despair during spiritual falls but to turn to God.

Pope Leo to visit Phanar for anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council

Patriarch Bartholomew stated that the Ecumenical Patriarchate is the Mother Church for all peoples.

Jerusalem delegation meets abbot of Sinai over the monastery issue

A Jerusalem delegation in Athens is seeking to address the St. Catherine’s Monastery conflict following an attempt by monks to remove the abbot.

UOC Primate officiates patronal feast in Feofaniya

Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy on the feast day of the Great Martyr Panteleimon at the monastery in Feofaniya.