His Beatitude Onuphry: Apostle Andrew taught us to love, forgive and repent

His Beatitude Onuphry. Photo: the UOC press service

On December 13, 2025, on the Feast Day of Saint Andrew the First-Called, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Agapitus Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and delivered a sermon dedicated to the enlightener of the Russian lands.

His Beatitude Onuphry spoke about the missionary service of Saint Andrew in the lands of future Rus': "History tells us that Apostle Andrew ascended the Dnieper and stopped on these Kyiv hills. At that time, Kyiv did not exist, but there were settlements. He stopped, spent the night here, at this place, and preached the word of Christ."

Metropolitan Onuphry drew attention to the contrast between the reception given to Apostle Andrew by the ancestors of Ukrainians and his martyrdom in the "civilized" world.

"Our people were then called barbarians. Well, today they say they were barbarians, savages. He returned to the civilized world, the Roman Empire, the city of Patras. And there the civilized world crucified him," said the Vladyka.

"This is what culture and pseudo-culture are. Our people had culture. Culture is what has divine roots. And pseudo-culture may appear attractive, but it is a culture that does not have divine roots. And there remains only human pomp and pride," emphasized the Primate.

Concluding the sermon, His Beatitude Onuphry called on the faithful to follow the example of the holy apostle.

"Saint Apostle Andrew taught us how we should live. He taught us to love God, and to love our neighbor. He taught us to forgive people. He taught us to love people, no matter who they are, even if they are hostile towards us. Saint Apostle Andrew taught us to repent," said Metropolitan Onuphry.

The Vladyka explained that all virtues reveal the divine image in a person, which the Lord has placed in everyone.

'Sins are like garbage that covers, closes, and defiles this image. But repentance, prayer, love, forgiveness reveal this image in a person. A person becomes beautiful," noted the Primate.

Concluding, His Beatitude Onuphry wished the faithful to be "good disciples of their enlightener and apostle", to live in love for God and for each other, and to achieve eternal salvation in Christ.

Earlier, the UOJ reflected on why Apostle Andrew did not come down from the cross.

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