His Beatitude officiates at graduation ceremony of Kyiv Theological Schools

2026 graduation ceremony of Kyiv Theological Schools. Photo: UOC

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry officiated at the celebrations on June 7, 2026, on the occasion of the completion of the academic year at the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, reports the UOC Information and Educational Department.

The celebrations began with the Divine Liturgy in the academic Church of Saint John of Damascus on the grounds of the Holosiiv Intercession Monastery. The Primate was concelebrated by Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, Metropolitan Nikodym of Zhytomyr, Metropolitan Philaret of Lviv, Rector of KDAiS Archbishop Sylvester and other hierarchs of the UOC, professors and students of the Kyiv theological schools in holy orders. The student choir under the direction of Archimandrite Leontiy sang during the service.

During the Liturgy, thanksgiving prayers were offered to the Lord for the completion of another academic year.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Onuphry ordained Serhii Hryhanych, a lecturer at the Kyiv Theological Seminary, to the diaconate. The sermon was delivered by Archimandrite Herman (Kovach), Associate Professor of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary.

After the service, a solemn graduation ceremony took place. The Rector of the Kyiv Theological Schools, Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka, summarized the academic year and thanked the teachers and students for their labors.

Then His Beatitude Onuphry congratulated the students on the completion of the academic year, addressed the graduates with a parting word, emphasizing the importance of maintaining faithfulness to Christ, the Church and their pastoral calling, especially in difficult times for Ukraine. The Primate presented the graduates with diplomas of theological education, as well as commemorative gifts.

As the UOJ reported, Metropolitan Onuphry chaired the final meeting of the KDAiS Academic Council.

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