UOC Primate officiates Liturgy of the Lord's Cross Procession Feast in Lavra
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: UOC
On the Feast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord and the Commemoration of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs, August 14, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Agapitus Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the UOC Information and Education Department reports.
Concelebrating with the Primate were Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the UOC, Bishop Lavr of Irpin, Bishop Mark of Borodianka, and the monastery clergy.
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, His Beatitude, in his homily, called on the faithful to follow the example of the ancient martyrs in striving for holiness through the keeping of the divine commandments.
During the service, prayers were offered for peace in the Ukrainian land, for deliverance from the enemy, and for God’s blessing upon people of goodwill who help those in need. The Primate asked the Lord to show mercy to the Ukrainian people, to grant wisdom to the authorities, courage to the soldiers, freedom to captives, healing to the sick, and shelter to those deprived of their homes.
Following the Liturgy, clergy and faithful venerated the Precious Cross.
Metropolitan Onuphry blessed honey and herbs and sprinkled the parishioners and pilgrims of the Lavra with holy water.
As the UOJ has reported, churches today hold special services with the bringing out of the Cross for the veneration of the faithful. Traditionally, during the water-blessing service on this day, honey and herbs are blessed.
Read also
UOC priest describes church seizure in Checheliivka
The dean of the Oleksandriia Eparchy said that representatives of the OCU forcibly opened a church where UOC parishioners had not been allowed to pray for three years.
Chernihiv Jews equate vandalism against menorah to arson of TRC
The Jews of Chernihiv are convinced that the vandals who toppled the menorah acted on Russia’s orders.
Mukachevo Metropolitan hands over aid to AFU and children's boarding home
With the blessing of Metropolitan Theodore, charitable events were held in the eparchy.
OCU takes over UOC church in the village of Checheliivka
Raiders from the OCU, after cutting the locks, broke into the Intercession Church, which was sealed until the court's ruling.
UOC publishes new liturgical texts approved by Synod
The Synodal Liturgical Commission presented prayers and services approved by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Khmelnytskyi hierarch offers condolences to family of man killed in shelling
Metropolitan Victor addressed the faithful following the shelling of Khmelnytskyi by Russian forces.