Ukrainian Orthodox Church prayerfully marks the 7th anniversary of the enthronement of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy

On August 17, 2021, festivities were held at the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery of the Dormition to mark the 7^th anniversary of the enthronement of His Beatitude Onufriy, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine. The Divine Liturgy in the cathedral square was presided over by the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Among his concelebrants were Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Ismail, Metropolitan Mark of Hust and Vinogradov, Metropolitan Feodor of Kamenets-Podolsky and Gorodok, chairman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Court; Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, father superior of the Kiev-Pechersk Laura; Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Bishop Ioann of Soroka (Orthodox Church of Moldova); as well as an assembly of hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, clergy of the Kiev-Pechersk Laura and the diocese of Kiev, as well as guests of the celebrations in holy orders.

At the Lesser Entrance, His Beatitude elevated Archbishop Seraphim of Ivano-Frankovsk and Kolomyia, Archbishop Joseph of Romny and Buryn, Archbishop Feodosiy of Cherkassy and Kanev to the rank of metropolitans, and Bishop Ioann of Zolotonosha, Bishop Sergiy of Bolgrad and Bishop Kassian of Ivankov were elevated to the rank of archbishops. 

In acknowledgement of their services for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and in connection with significant dates they mark this year, several hierarchs were awarded: Metropolitan Philipp of Poltava and Mirgorod, on the occasion of his 65^th birthday, was awarded the Order of St. Job of Pochayev (Degree I); Metropolitan Ioasaf of Kirvograd and Novomirgorod, on the occasion of his 60^th birthday - the Order of the Nativity of Christ; Metropolitan Efrem of Krivoy Rog and Nikopol, on the occasion of his 55^th birthday - the Order of Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles (Degree I); Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernovtsy and Bukovina, on the occasion of the 15^th anniversary of his episcopal consecration - the Order of Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles (Degree I); Metropolitan Nikolay of Krementz and Lubny, on the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of his episcopal consecration - the Order of Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles (Degree I); Metropolitan Filaret of Novokakhovks and Ghenichesk, on the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of his episcopal consecration - the Order of St. Theodosius of Chernigov; Bishop Veniamin of Khotin, on the occasion of his 55^th birthday - the Order of St. Theodosius of Chernigov; Bishop Lavr of Irpen, on the occasion of his 35^th birthday - the Order of Dimitry of Rostov.

During the liturgy, ardent prayers were lifted up for the cessation of the coronavirus pandemic, recovery of the ill and for doctors who struggle for their health and life.

After the Reading of the Gospel, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church delivered a sermon on the life of the seven youths of Ephesus.

After the liturgy, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol read out messages from Local Orthodox Churches congratulating the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on his enthronement day.

Then Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Ismail extended to the Primate congratulations on behalf of the Holy Synod and the whole flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

His Beatitude thanked Metropolitan Agafangel, the bishops, priests and all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the congratulations and for remaining faithful to the true faith in such a hard time and for their seeking unity in Christ based not on human principles but on God’s laws.

The day before His Beatitude Onufriy celebrated All-Night Vigil in the main square of the Kiev-Pechersk Laura.

UOC Information-Education Department

DECR Communication Service