His Beatitude celebrates St. Mary's Standing

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC Information and Education Department

On March 25, 2026, Wednesday of the fifth week

of Great Lent, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine celebrated Matins with the reading of the Great Canon of Repentance by Saint Andrew of Crete at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

The Divine service was held at the Church of Saint Agapitus of the Caves. On this day, the Lavra traditionally holds a special service known as the Standing of St. Mary.

The Primate was concelebrated by Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary, the UOC Chancellor, Archbishop Lavr of Irpin, Archbishop Mark of Borodianka, as well as the clergy and guests of the monastery of the monastery.

The main feature of the service is the reading of the complete Great Canon of Repentance by Saint Andrew of Crete, parts of which were read at Great Compline during the first four days of Great Lent.

According to tradition, the life of Saint Mary of Egypt was also read during the service, narrating her penitential feat and conversion to Christ. Her example serves believers as a model of true repentance and testimony to God's boundless mercy.

According to the liturgical typikon, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated the following day.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the UOC celebrates the 55th anniversary of Metropolitan Onuphry's monastic tonsure.

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