His Beatitude on St. Onuphrius: Pure heart turns even a desert into paradise

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC

On the feast day of St. Onuphrius the Great, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine reflected on the power of repentance and the grace of God that transforms the human soul. The remarks were reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Primate thanked the faithful for their joint prayers and spoke about the significance of the ascetic struggle of St. Onuphrius, who “took nothing from the world, but gave it much through his prayers.”

His Beatitude recalled the life of the saint as a living testimony that a person who gives themselves wholly to God can find paradise even in the desert. From the age of three, St. Onuphrius was given over to monastic life, and later, following the examples of the Prophet Elijah and John the Forerunner, withdrew into the remote deserts, where he spent decades in prayer and ascetic struggle.

“When we are burdened with sin, we feel cramped everywhere – even royal palaces cannot bring us peace. But when the soul is pure, it finds peace even in the desert, for God is with it,” Metropolitan Onuphry noted.

He emphasized that through his prayers, St. Onuphrius granted humanity great spiritual strength. His life stands as an example of how a person who is focused on God attains true freedom and peace.

“A person living without God cannot have peace in their soul. But one who has been reconciled with God – no matter who they are –  will find true rest,” he said.

The hierarch stressed that love is the foundation of life and called on everyone to preserve it, even in times of trial. According to him, we must love not only our benefactors but also our enemies – not by approving their actions, but by calling them to repentance.

In conclusion, His Beatitude wished that through the prayers of St. Onuphrius, all may live in purity and piety, so that the soul may become a temple of divine grace.

“For the grace of God abides where there is love and a sincere striving toward goodness,” the Primate said, and wished peace to all.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Primates of the Polish Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia extended their congratulations to His Beatitude on the day of his name day.

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