Bulgarian bishop to UOC: You are an example of true faith in Christ for us
Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech. Photo: a screenshot of Youtube channel ‘Ukrainska Pravoslavna Tserkva’ (‘Uktainian Orthodox Church’)
The hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, sent His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian people congratulations on the upcoming Bright Resurrection of Christ.
The video congratulation of the Bulgarian hierarch to the brothers and sisters of fraternal Orthodox Ukraine was published by the UOC Information and Educational Department.
“With all my heart, I congratulate you on the greatest feast of Christ's Resurrection! I wish your country, your Holy Church spiritual prosperity! May the Lord bless beautiful Orthodox Ukraine, may He grant you the world of spiritual prosperity, well-being, and salvation for Christians,” Metropolitan Gabriel wished.
He stressed that the Bulgarian Church and the Ukrainian Church are one Body of Christ, and “brothers, if one rejoices, the other rejoices in him. If one suffers, the other is compassionate for him."
“So is our love – we rejoice at your successes, we rejoice in the fact that in all your difficulties you have a spiritual life, you have the faith that can be taken as an example,” the bishop continued. “History has shown that the Lord sends great leaders, great teachers during trials, especially to those nations that He loves. And right now, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has the greatest shepherd – Vladyka Onuphry, who is a man of holy life, a man of prayer, an ascetic. And we see that with his love, with his peace, he unites the children of the Orthodox Church, protects them from wolves, and with his prayers protects them from danger and temptations."
In conclusion, Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech wished the bishops of the UOC and their spiritual children that the Risen Lord would reward them for all their difficulties and grant everyone salvation.
“For us, you are an example of true faith in Christ! We ask your holy prayers! Christ is Risen! Truly Risen!" resumed the hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
As reported earlier, Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech concelebrated the Primate of the UOC at the Liturgy in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Read also
Moldova lacks capacity to maintain 800 temples it intends to seize from Church
According to the Minister of Culture, authorities plan to seize 800 churches from the Moldovan Church, but they lack the capability to manage them.
Court returns seized church to UOC community in Ivankiv
The appellate court declared invalid the re-registration of the UOC community of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in the town of Ivankiv.
2,800-year-old seal with biblical symbols found in Israel
Israeli archaeologists have found a stone seal from the era of Judean kings with an inscription in ancient Hebrew.
Pope warns clergy against writing AI-based sermons
The head of the Roman Catholic Church warned priests about the risks of using digital technologies in ministry.
UOC parishes abroad hold memorial services on war anniversary
Clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad prayed on the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry performs reading of Great Penitential Canon
Another Bukovynian community, deprived of its church, continues Great Lent services in an adapted facility.