His Beatitude leads myrrh-boiling rite in Feofaniya Monastery
The Primate of the UOC at the Divine Liturgy on Maundy Thursday led the first rite of chrism-making since 1917.
On April 13, 2023, Maundy Thursday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine officiated the Divine Liturgy at the cathedral church of the St. Panteleimon Convent in Feofaniya. During the service, His Beatitude sanctified the myrrh. This is reported by the LAVRA.Live Telegram channel.
The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was concelebrated by a host of archpastors and clergymen of the UOC.
Before the start of the Divine Liturgy, to the singing of the troparion of Pentecost and the ringing of bells, the clergy, led by the Primate, transferred the alabaster with prepared chrism to the altar of the temple, which was consecrated at the Liturgy after the words: “And may the mercies of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all.”
Chrism has been prepared by the Kyiv Metropolis since the middle of the 15th century. Further, the holy myrrh was made in the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, then due to the revolutionary events of 1917, this practice ceased in Ukraine. The Council of the UOC, which took place on May 27, 2022 in Kyiv, had a discussion about its resumption. As reported by the UOJ, the decision on this was made at the Synod on November 23, 2022.