Metropolitan Onuphry: 52 years of service

Hieromonk Onuphry (Berezovsky). Photo: Foma

When the Lord spoke the parable of the Good Shepherd, He said, among other things: “…when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice…” (John 10:4). This means that the shepherd must show his flock where to go. He must be the first to go where he wants to lead his sheep. To go to God, to go to the Heavenly Kingdom, which is inherited by the poor in spirit and those persecuted for righteousness.

Metropolitan Onuphry was expelled from the Chernivtsi diocese in the early 1990s. He was expelled by the then Metropolitan of Kyiv, Filaret. Expelled for the truth. Now Metropolitan Onuphry has been expelled from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Again, for the truth. And he bore all this as one poor in spirit. Even his enemies do not deny that Metropolitan Onuphry is above all a Christian and a monk, that he sets an example for believers, that he fully practices what he preaches from the church pulpit.

Another characteristic of the true shepherd: “…the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). These words are very profound because they speak not only of physically dying for one's flock. A person's life consists of many moments: his knowledge, skills, authority, reputation, social status, material conditions, safety, and much more. And all of this, if necessary, the shepherd must sacrifice for the salvation of his sheep.

There are many complaints about His Beatitude Onuphry from both priests and laypeople. They say he does not make resonant statements: he does not proclaim autocephaly, as some demand, nor does he approach those in power with angry speeches, as others expect. But the true shepherd's authenticity lies in caring only for the well-being of his flock, in leading them to the Heavenly Kingdom, not in preserving his own reputation, looking good in the eyes of others, or continuing to enjoy material perks and social status.

These two traits: being a role model for the flock and being ready to sacrifice everything, the Lord highlighted as necessary for the true shepherd. Not wisdom, not organizational skills, not eloquence, but these. Let us pray, brothers and sisters, that the Lord grants His Beatitude Onuphry spiritual and physical fortitude to carry his cross to the end.

Many years!

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