Metropolitan Onuphry: God created man for peace, not war and hostility
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: UOC
On the feast day of St. Sergius of Radonezh, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reminded the faithful in his sermon that God created human beings to live in peace with their Creator and one another, not to wage wars or harbor hostility.
“God does not want this,” the UOC Primate emphasized. “God does not want us to wage war or kill one another. God created man to live in peace with God and with one another, so that we might all live as one family, pleasing God, who is the Source of eternal salvation and life.”
His Beatitude noted that love for God is the only unshakable virtue capable of uniting humanity, unlike any earthly ideology. He pointed to the saints, including St. Anthony of the Caves and St. Sergius of Radonezh, as examples of such spiritual unity and complete devotion to the Lord.
Metropolitan Onuphry observed that many people today are weighed down by everyday concerns, but everyone must find at least a little time for repentance, seeking forgiveness, and prayerful communion with their Creator.
“If a person wants to live, he must turn to God, return to God, and serve God,” the Primate concluded. “And if we remain connected to the Source of life through prayer and obedience to God's commandments, our earthly life will be blessed, and we will be granted salvation in heaven.”
As previously reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Onuphry called on the faithful to pray to the Mother of God for peace in Ukraine.
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