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.

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