UOC Primate speaks on the power of holy water and importance of repentance

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC

On January 18, 2025, the Eve of Theophany, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine delivered a sermon following the Divine Liturgy and Great Vespers at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. In his address, he reflected on the essence of the preaching of Saint John the Baptist and the significance of holy water for believers, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The Primate reminded the congregation of the profound importance of the Prophet John the Baptist, who prepared people to accept the Savior through his message of repentance.

"Many different people came to John the Baptist. Pharisees, scribes... Ordinary people and soldiers came to be baptized. They asked him what repentance meant. He told the soldiers not to accuse anyone falsely and to be content with their wages. The prophet also said that those who have two garments should share with the poor, and those with an abundance of food should do the same. This is how he taught repentance. Repentance is not just words but deeds," His Beatitude emphasized.

The Metropolitan also recounted that, according to tradition, before their baptism in the Jordan, people confessed their sins to Saint John. However, when the Lord Jesus Christ entered the waters of the Jordan, He had no need for confession:
"John immediately immersed Him in the water because the Savior had no sins. He came to be baptized not for repentance but to ‘fulfill all righteousness.’"

In his sermon, His Beatitude placed special emphasis on the power of holy water:
"Holy baptismal water possesses great strength. It drives demons away from a person. It cleanses a person from the impurity of body and spirit. It is essential for everyone to drink this water, bring it home, and, if possible, invite a priest to pray and sprinkle their home with holy water."

The Primate also noted that if it is not possible to invite a priest, any believer can recite the Troparion of Theophany or another prayer and sprinkle their home themselves:
"Everything needs purification. Our sins defile everything – ourselves and everything around us... Holy water cleanses and sanctifies what we have defiled with sin," the First Hierarch of the UOC stressed.

Concluding his sermon, Metropolitan Onuphry called on the faithful to bear the fruits of repentance and strive for the grace of the Holy Spirit to achieve salvation in Christ.

As previously reported by UOJ, the Primate of the UOC officiated the service for the Eve of Theophany at the Lavra.

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