Met Onuphry: Passions are beasts to be defeated only through repentance

Metropolitan Onuphry with the icon of St. Philaret of the Zverynets Monastery. Photo: uoc-news.church

On the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine explained in his sermon why the Church commemorates the act of repentance of St. Mary of Egypt on this particular day. The address was reported by the UOC’s Information and Education Department.

According to the Metropolitan, every person living on earth sins – and in doing so "feeds" sinful thoughts, inclinations, and passions, which become inner "beasts." When someone chooses to repent and cease sinning, these passions rise up against them.

“The passions begin to torment a person who wants to be rid of them. They also harm those living alongside such a person. So that we don’t fall into despair, the Church offers us the example of the repentance of St. Mary of Egypt, who endured all of this,” said the Primate.

His Beatitude emphasized that St. Mary endured many years of suffering caused by sinful desires, enduring both cold and heat, but with God’s help, she overcame her passions and attained grace.

“May the Lord, through the prayers of St. Mary of Egypt, help us to spend the days of Lent in self-restraint and inner struggle – cutting off sinful desires, emotions, and thoughts,” the Metropolitan said.

In his sermon, His Beatitude also reminded the faithful that on this day the Holy Church commemorates the Venerable Fathers of the Zverynets Monastery. He shared the story of the life and struggles of the confessor and saint, Venerable Philaret (Kochubei), former abbot of the Zverynets Monastery, who is now glorified among the saints.

“Venerable Philaret is an intercessor for this holy place. He prays for those who come here to pray, to grow spiritually, for our city, our region, and all people,” said the Metropolitan.

According to His Beatitude, the saints pray for everyone without exception, not dividing people into categories. It is sin that divides people, but God unites all. And the saints, by imitating Him in mercy and love, also pray for everyone.

“They pray that the sinner may become righteous, and that the righteous may be sanctified even further. Such is the prayer of the saints,” added Metropolitan Onuphry.

At the conclusion of his sermon, the Archpastor called everyone to spiritual struggle, which is necessary for restoring within ourselves the image of God, which has been damaged by sin.

“May the Lord help us to walk the path of repentance with patience, never straying from it, and to continue along the way of spiritual life,” said His Beatitude.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the UOC's Primate had emphasized the importance of fasting and prayer for spiritual growth.

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