Metropolitan Onuphry: The Lord has exalted human nature to the heavens

Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC Press Service

On May 29, 2025, during the Divine Liturgy at the Florovsky Monastery in Kyiv, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onuphry, delivered a sermon for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, in which he reflected on the deep salvific meaning of the event.

"The Son of God, the Word of God, became incarnate, took upon Himself human nature in order to save humanity and return the Kingdom of Heaven to man," said Metropolitan Onuphry in his homily.

The exaltation of human nature

The Metropolitan emphasized the unique significance of the Ascension for the dignity of the human person: "In His Ascension, the Lord exalted human nature to the heavens and seated it at the right hand of God the Father. This is a great honor – one not even granted to the angels – to be beside the Savior."

According to the Primate, after the Ascension, "Man became kin to God, for God united Himself with man. Man is now closer to God than any other being, and no one can tear man away from the divine embrace of love – unless man himself desires it."

"Now man has become invincible to the devil and to every force of evil," Metropolitan Onuphry stated.

The role of the Church in salvation

His Beatitude also emphasized the role of the Church in the salvation of humanity: "In His Ascension, the Lord sent us the Holy Spirit, through Whom He filled and gave life to His Church – the Church He established with His most precious blood for our salvation."

He reminded the faithful that in the Church, "The Lord allows us to partake of His most pure divine Body and drink His most pure divine Blood. Through receiving the Holy Mysteries, the Lord makes us capable of eternal life and salvation."

A call to a worthy life

Metropolitan Onuphry called on believers to live a life worthy of the Christian calling: "We must live in such a way that we are worthy members of this Divine Body, that we do not offend God with our sins, our deeds, our weaknesses."

"And if we do fall, we must repent – for God loves the person who, having sinned, repents," he added.

The Metropolitan concluded his sermon with a heartfelt exhortation to live in such a way "that our lives may be filled with Divine grace," which
"is given to man when he fulfills the Divine law."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Onuphry had emphasized in another sermon that one can come to know God’s will simply by listening to one’s own conscience.

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