His Beatitude: Sacrificial love leads a person to Heavenly life
His Beatitude Onuphry. Photo: the UOC press service
On December 14, 2025, on the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine led the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The Primate's service took place at the Church of St. Agapitus of the Caves. His Beatitude was concelebrated by the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary, Archbishop Lavr of Irpin, Archbishop Mark of Borodianka, the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and the clergy.
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry addressed the community with a sermon in which he reminded them of the significance of almsgiving and sacrificial love.
"Every person, even if they are poor, should give as much as they can, as much as their heart allows. Like the poor widow mentioned in the Gospel: she brought two mites – very small coins – and put them in. The Lord said that she put in more than all, because she gave out of her poverty, not out of abundance," noted His Beatitude.
Speaking about the spiritual fruits of sacrifice, the Primate emphasized that self-sacrifice for the sake of God and neighbor is significant not only for earthly life but above all for eternal life.
"God loves when a person sacrifices themselves for the sake of God, sacrifices themselves for the sake of their neighbor. This sacrificial love brings great fruits, which we need even for earthly life, but even more so for the heavenly life in Christ Jesus, our Lord," emphasized His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
During the service, fervent prayers were offered for peace in Ukrainian land, deliverance from the enemy, help to those in despair and the homeless, and for God's blessing on all who help those in need. The Primate asked God for mercy on the Ukrainian people, that the Lord would reason with the authorities, strengthen the courage of the soldiers, free the captives, heal the sick, and provide shelter to those who are homeless.
During the Liturgy, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry ordained Kostiantyn Kovaliuk, a first-year master's student at the Kyiv Theological Academy, as a deacon. At the end of the service, the Primate congratulated the faithful on Sunday and blessed the flock.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Primate thanked the clergy and the faithful for their support in his ministry.
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