His Beatitude leads Liturgy on feast day of St. Onuphrius the Great

The Liturgy on the occasion of the Name Day of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Photo: Official website of the UOC

On June 25, 2025, the feast day of St. Onuphrius the Great, a solemn service was held at the Panteleimon Monastery in Feofania on the occasion of the Name Day of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports the UOC press service.

The Divine Liturgy in the main church of the monastery was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius of Kyiv and All Ukraine. His Beatitude was concelebrated by permanent members of the Holy Synod of the UOC, hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and the monastery clergy.

During the Liturgy, abbesses and nuns of the UOC convents prayed, along with numerous faithful who came to congratulate the Primate and join in prayer.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Kyiv Theological Academy under the direction of Archimandrite Leontiy (Tupkalo).

During the Liturgy, special prayers were offered for peace on Ukrainian soil. The Primate asked God to have mercy on the Ukrainian people, that the Lord would grant wisdom to the authorities, strengthen the warriors with courage, free the prisoners, heal the sick, and provide shelter to the homeless.

During the service, a deacon’s ordination took place: His Beatitude ordained Serhiy Poyras, a cleric of the Kyiv Eparchy, as deacon. He will serve at the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Boyarka.

At the conclusion of the service, a ‘Many Years’ blessing was proclaimed for His Beatitude on the occasion of his heavenly patron's day. A congratulatory address on behalf of the Holy Synod was read by Metropolitan Serhiy of Ternopil and Kremenets.

The Primate expressed gratitude to all who came and prayed for the Ukrainian people, the soldiers, and all people of goodwill. He wished everyone inner peace, which is granted regardless of status, condition, or education, but only to those who abide in God.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on the feast day of St. Onuphrius the Great, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius of Kyiv and All Ukraine highlighted the power of repentance and the grace of God, which transforms the soul of a person. 

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