His Beatitude Onuphry thanks believers for unity in hard times

Believers congratulating the Primate on the anniversary of his enthronement. Photo: news.church.ua

On August 17, 2021, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, during the celebration of the 7th anniversary of his enthronement, thanked the believers of the UOC for unity in difficult times, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry thanked the bishops, clergy and believers for the fact that in these difficult times they remain faithful to the true faith and strive for unity in Christ, based not on human principles but on God's laws.

“I want to thank all the bishops of the Holy Church, all the priests and all of you, dear brothers and sisters, for coming today to pray for my unworthiness. Seven years have passed like one day. Although the time was eventful, some events were replaced by others, but, probably, the human heart and the human soul are arranged in such a way that when 7 years are ahead, it seems to us that there is a lot, and when they are lived though, it seems that they are nothing,” the Archpastor addressed those present.

According to the Primate of the UOC, these years were difficult but filled with the grace of God: “We have experienced many non-standard, unusual situations, which consisted of God's allowance and providence. And today I thank the Lord that He was patient, long-suffering both to me, a sinner, and to all of us,” said His Beatitude. “The Lord strengthened and gave new grace, new strength in difficult moments, when, it would seem, all forces and opportunities are already exhausted."

Metropolitan Onuphry thanked all those who in these difficult times withstood in the struggle against temptations: “May the Lord reward those people who showed the strength of mind in difficult times when the question arose: go left or right (and if you go left, then there is applause and human praise), but we went right – for walking the right roads – the roads that lead people to God.

He emphasized that "both our strength and our unity make sense when we are one in God, in Truth, in Christ." The Archpastor recalled that "this unity is strong, and no one can destroy it".

All other associations that arise on human principles and human interests are "as durable as these principles and interests make sense", and "when they lose their meaning, the unity is destroyed". At the same time, “the unity around the Divine Truth is eternal because God is eternal,” the Primate emphasized.

“May the Lord help all of us, dear brothers and sisters, bishops so that we may be one in Christ. This will be a blessing for us in earthly life and will be the basis of hope for salvation in eternal life,” resumed Metropolitan Onuphry.

As reported, the UOC prayerfully celebrated the 7th anniversary of the Primate's enthronement.

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