His Beatitude calls to do good secretly glorifying God

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: UOC

On July 27, 2025, on the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, the day of commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Six Ecumenical Councils, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine led the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The Primate was concelebrated by the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary, Bishop Lavr of Irpin, Bishop Mark of Borodianka, Bishop Athanasiy of Kamin-Kashyrskyi, Bishop Seraphim of Novovorontsovka, the brethren of the monastery, and guests in holy orders.

In his sermon, His Beatitude used the example of the Gospel story about the healing of two blind men and a mute demoniac by the Lord to explain how to properly help people. 

His Beatitude noted that the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was accompanied by numerous miracles, including healings. These miracles attracted attention and "became the main topic, the news that people talked about".

At the same time, when Christ healed the two blind men, He forbade them to tell who did it. According to the Primate, this is how the Lord showed us how to perform good deeds.

"Sometimes we do some good deeds […] And a person should hide these deeds. Because it is God who did it through him," described the correct approach to charity by the Primate of the UOC.

He also warned against preventing the person who received the benefit from seeing their true Benefactor. "Having done a good deed, step aside. Let the person thank God, who performed good deeds through you," explained Metropolitan Onuphry.

His Beatitude drew attention to the fact that these two blind men did not consider the Savior as God, but as the Son of David. "Jesus, Son of David," they addressed the Lord. "He hid Himself as a Man so that they would look at God, who healed them," noted His Beatitude.

The Primate also pointed out the correct understanding of the source of goodness in a person and their strength for charity. He emphasized that the only source of all good is God. "No one has any power within themselves to do good. Only God," added the Archpastor.

"Everything that can be beautiful and necessary for a person, which collectively constitutes such a concept as life, all this is with God. God is the source of life," emphasized His Beatitude Onuphry.

During the service, prayers were offered for peace in Ukrainian land and for deliverance from the enemy; that the Lord would preserve those in despair and who have lost their homes; for God's blessing on people of goodwill who help the needy. The Primate asked God for mercy on the Ukrainian people, that the Lord would enlighten the authorities, strengthen the courage of the soldiers, free the captives, heal the sick, and provide shelter to the homeless.

In conclusion, the Primate congratulated the community on Sunday, wished that the Lord would grant what is necessary for earthly and heavenly life, and bless with peace.

As reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude stated that spiritual perfection is a continuous process.

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