UOC marks 35th anniversary of Primate’s episcopal ordination

Metropolitan Onufriy celebrated the festive Liturgy in Kyiv. Photo: UOC

On December 9, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry officiated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon (Feofania) in Kyiv on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of his episcopal consecration, the UOC’s Information and Education Department reports.

Concelebrating with the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were the permanent members of the Holy Synod, hierarchs, and clergy from various eparchies.

The service was attended by the abbesses of UOC women’s monasteries, while the choir of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, under the direction of Archimandrite Leontiy (Tupkalo), performed the liturgical hymns.

During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for peace on Ukrainian soil; for deliverance from the enemy; that the Lord might preserve those who are in despair and have lost their homes; and for God’s blessing upon people of good will who help those in need. The Primate asked God to show mercy to the Ukrainian people, to grant wisdom to the authorities, to strengthen the soldiers with courage, to free the captives, to heal the sick, and to shelter those deprived of their homes.

After the dismissal, on behalf of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Theodor of Kamianets-Podilskyi and Horodok congratulated His Beatitude, while the Primate thanked the clergy and faithful for their shared prayers and support in his ministry.

Representatives of monastic communities and all the faithful who prayed at the service then greeted Metropolitan Onuphry.

Thirty-five years ago, on December 9, 1990, the future Primate of the UOC – then Archimandrite Onuphry (Berezovsky) – was ordained Bishop of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna. Traditionally, on the day of His Beatitude’s episcopal consecration, the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the UOC pray together with their Primate.

As reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude spoke about the spiritual dangers of attachment to earthly goods.

Read also