Metropolitan Onuphry: Love for enemies destroys evil, revenge multiplies it
The UOC Primate urged believers to forgive those who wrong them and do good without expecting gratitude or reward.
On October 18, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry explained in his Sunday sermon why love for one's enemies destroys evil, while revenge only multiplies it. The sermon was published in a video on the UOC's official channel.
The Primate recalled the Gospel teaching to treat others as we would want them to treat us. He said that when conflicts arise, we should put ourselves in the other person's shoes: everyone who has done something wrong hopes to be treated with understanding, mercy, and patience.
His Beatitude explained that love based on mutual benefit merely keeps evil in check. Spiritual love, by contrast, is self-sacrificing – it inspires people to help others without expecting gratitude and to forgive those who have hurt them. Judgment of those who sin belongs to God, who gives everyone an opportunity to repent and mend their ways.
Metropolitan Onuphry emphasized that the world continues to exist as long as there are people capable of loving their enemies, forgiving offenses, and doing good selflessly. If this spirit of self-sacrifice disappears, people will destroy themselves through anger and hatred. The Primate called on believers to work on themselves and learn to show mercy, following the example of their Heavenly Father.
As the UOJ previously reported, Metropolitan Onuphry explained how to live without grieving the Mother of God.
