His Beatitude: Not sinning benefits both the individual and the world
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry and believers in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on June 9, 2024. Photo: news.church.ua
In his sermon at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on June 9, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded why it is so important to live by God's commandments and strive not to sin, reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.
"We often turn to God with various prayers in our lives. We pray for ourselves, for our sins, for success, for health, for many questions that we want to solve on earth. We pray for our relatives, for friends, for acquaintances, for people who are in trouble. Sometimes God hears us, sometimes we pray, but there is no answer," said the Primate of the UOC.
He pointed out that the reason for such "silence" from God is within the person themselves. According to him, a strong prayer is one that is based on love for God and on fulfilling His will.
He explained the benefits of obeying God's commandments to both the individual and the world.
"A person should always ask themselves: 'What does God say about this?' And not act as I want, or as someone else wants, but act as God wants," added the First Hierarch. "This is not an insult to anyone or contempt for anyone. When a person lives by God's commandments, they can receive many blessings from God. For the world, the fulfillment of God's law by a person is beneficial because it is said, if a person saves themselves, then thousands will be saved around such a person. If I perish, then no one will be saved around me."
As reported earlier, the Primate in the Lavra performed the last Liturgy of the Paschal period for the year.
Read also
In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female
A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.
Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.
Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy
The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.
OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka
About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.
In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC сhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue
Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.
OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure
The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.