UOC celebrates Primate's namesake and 50th anniversary of his monasticism

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Photo: news.church.ua

On June 25, 2021, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the namesake and the 50th anniversary of monasticism of its Primate – His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

On June 24, on the eve of the day of remembrance of his heavenly patron Saint Onuphrius the Great, His Beatitude officiated the all-night vigil on the square in front of the Assumption Cathedral of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, concelebrated by a host of bishops and the monastery's brethren in the priestly dignity.

On the next day, the Primate of the UOC led the Divine Liturgy in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The festive divine service on the square in front of the Assumption Cathedral was broadcast by the Information Center of the UOC.

50 years ago, on March 18, 1971, the future Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, took monastic vows at the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in honor of the 4th century Orthodox ascetic, the Monk Onuphrius the Great, who had led an ascetic life completely alone in the Egyptian desert for 60 years. Taking monastic vows, he completely devoted his life to becoming like his heavenly patron, first of all, in complete surrender to the will of God, humility and love for Christ.

Every year on June 25, on the feast of the heavenly patron saint of the Primate of the UOC, numerous representatives of the Local Churches congratulate His Beatitude Onuphry on his namesake. Thus, in 2019, delegations from the Alexandrian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Cypriot, Polish, Czech Churches and the Orthodox Church in America arrived in Kyiv to participate in the festivities and congratulate His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. In 2020, due to quarantine restrictions, the celebrations were held with a limited number of participants.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated His Beatitude Onuphry on the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon.

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