Metropolitan Onuphry: We must keep Prince Volodymyr's legacy – faith of love
His Beatitude Onuphry. Photo: lavra.ua
On the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine addressed the faithful with a sermon, recalling the history of the Baptism of Rus' and the spiritual significance of this event for our people.
The Primate noted that the seeds of the Christian faith were sown in Rus' by the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and were subsequently strengthened by the Baptism of Princes Askold and Dir and the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga. However, according to him, they bore abundant fruit in the time of the Holy Prince Volodymyr.
His Beatitude Onuphry recalled that, having become the ruler of a vast state, Prince Volodymyr sought the true faith and sent his envoys to learn about various religions. Having heard their testimonies, he chose Orthodoxy. The Primate also recounted the Baptism of Prince Volodymyr in Korsun, his return to Kyiv with clergy and church books, and the subsequent mass Baptism of the people in the waters of the Pochaina River.
His Beatitude paid particular attention to the prayer of the Holy Prince Volodymyr before the Baptism of Rus'. According to the Archpastor, the prince asked the Lord to grant the newly baptized people the knowledge of the True God and to establish them in the right faith.
"We, as children of Prince Volodymyr – if we wish to consider ourselves as such – must continue to live by that pious faith which Prince Volodymyr established in our land," the Primate emphasized.
According to His Beatitude Onuphry, the Christian faith is above all a faith of love for God and man. It teaches us to forgive, to endure, to pray, and to live piously, and such a path leads a person to eternal life.
In conclusion, the Primate called upon the faithful to thank God for the gift of the Baptism of Rus' and preserve the Orthodox faith, which has united and strengthened the people throughout the centuries.
As the UOJ reported, the Primate of the UOC led the celebrations of the Baptism of Rus' at the Lavra.
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