His Beatitude celebrates Liturgy on Feast Day of St Theodosius at Kyiv Lavra

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC

The memory of Venerable Theodosius of the Caves was honored at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. According to the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on May 16, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine presided over the festive Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Agapitus.

Concelebrating with the Primate were: Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the UOC; Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, Chairman of the UOC Information and Education Department; Metropolitan Joasaph of Vasylkiv; Archbishop Andriy of Petropavlivka; Archbishop Ambrose of Zghurivka; Archbishop Spyridon of Vyshneve; Bishop Lavr of Irpin; Bishop Mark of Borodianka; Bishop Arkady of Hostomel; and Bishop Philaret of Baryshivka, as well as clergy of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and visiting priests.

After the Gospel reading, His Beatitude delivered a sermon, noting that the Church remembers Venerable Theodosius as one of the monastery’s first abbots and a great ascetic of prayer and humility. His life, said Metropolitan Onuphry, is an example of spiritual courage, meekness, and faith. Especially today, he stressed, it is important to remember that humility is not weakness but strength. “Humility is the noble art of surrendering one's ego with courage under the shelter of God’s almighty grace,” he said.

During the service, prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and deliverance from the enemy. The faithful asked God for mercy upon the Ukrainian people: that He grant wisdom to the authorities, courage to the soldiers, freedom to the captives, healing to the sick, and shelter to those who have lost their homes.

After the Liturgy, the clergy, led by the Primate, performed the rite of glorification with a prayer to Venerable Theodosius.

His Beatitude sprinkled the faithful with holy water and congratulated them on the feast.

As previously reported by the UOJ, on May 15, 2025, on the eve of the feast of Venerable Theodosius, abbot of the Kyiv Caves, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry officiated the solemn brotherhood Vespers.

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