His Beatitude: Fasting and prayer are two staffs towards spiritual grace
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC
In his sermon on the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry stated that fasting and prayer are like two staffs that help us ascend the mountain of the Holy Spirit’s grace, according to the UOC press service.
Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful that Great Lent is a time for every Christian to strive for self-restraint, to battle negative emotions and thoughts, and to deepen their prayer life.
In this context, His Beatitude referenced St. John Climacus and his spiritual work The Ladder, which outlines the steps of spiritual ascent.
The Primate also noted that the path of spiritual perfection is revealed in the Gospel by the Savior Himself.
“The Lord explains this to us in His Sermon on the Mount, where He calls blessed those who follow the steps of spiritual growth and work on themselves,” His Beatitude said.
Explaining the Beatitudes, the hierarch paid particular attention to the seventh: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). According to him, when a person becomes pure in heart – which is the previous beatitude (see Matthew 5:8) – they become a vessel for the grace of the Holy Spirit.
“As long as we sin, as long as our hearts are impure, we are in conflict with God – we may not realize or admit it, but it is so. Only a person with a pure heart can become a peacemaker. Such a person reconciles with God and, of course, can also reconcile others with God and with one another. The reward for peacemakers is that they are called sons of God – not servants or slaves, but sons. And that is the highest honor a person can attain,” he explained.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Onuphry called on the faithful to remember the importance of spiritual effort and the pursuit of perfection, emphasizing that fasting and prayer are “two wings” on which a person rises to spiritual heights.
As previously reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude recently led the consecration of the Bishop of Rakhiv.
Read also
"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims
DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."
His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.
Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.
In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years
In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra
During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.
In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling
As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.