UOC Chancellor: The entire UOC rejoices and prays to God for its Primate

Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich). Photo: Facebook page of Metropolitan Anthony

The entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church – from laity to hierarchy – rejoices and prays to God for its Primate. The Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, said this during a briefing on June 25, 2021, on the day of the namesake of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the Information and Education Department of the UOC reports.

According to the UOC Chancellor, if you look at the life of His Beatitude, who 50 years ago took monastic tonsure with the name in honor of the holy ascetic of the 4th century St. Onuphrius the Great, "then, of course, it becomes clear that the Monk Onuphrius the Great led him for the great service as the Primate of the UOC in the 21st century."

Despite the difficult times that Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are now facing, “the deep faith and monastic virtues revealed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry enable our UOC to develop both quantitatively and qualitatively,” he said.

“The Primate of the UOC is not just the leader of the largest confession in Ukraine,” said Metropolitan Anthony.”The image of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry embodies the best qualities a person can display as a monk, as a Christian. This is faith, devotion to the will of God, great love for his homeland and for his people."

The Metropolitan added that the Primate, with whom he often communicates, sees in everyone who recourses to him, first of all, a human, “sees inner anxiety and life experiences , (...) draws attention to those issues that cause concern to a person today.”

“Therefore, we are grateful to God for our Primate. We pray earnestly for the health of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, that God would give him strength and courage to continue to lead the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for many years in the qualities that our Ukrainian society needs. The entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church – from layman to bishop –rejoices and prays to God for its Primate today,” summed up Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary and congratulated everyone on the holiday.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that on June 25, 2021, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church celebrates the namesake day and the 50th anniversary of the monasticism of its Primate. Accepting congratulations, His Beatitude Onuphry thanked the clergy and faithful of the UOC for their support.

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