UOC Primate: We must be loyal to Christ and reject any false doctrines

In his sermon on the holiday of Apostle Andrew the First-called His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy called everybody to preserve purity of Orthodox faith, which was spread by Jesus Christ’s disciples. It is reported by the UOC Information and Education Department.

“Apostle Andrew brought to our lands the faith we have preserved, thanks to God’s grace, up to the present day. This faith is called Orthodoxy – the one to teach a human to glorify our Lord in the right way,” remarked the Primate.

His Beatitude vladyka reminded that this faith rests upon two commandments of love – for Good and your neighbor, which, when being observed, transfigure people for better.

“This faith has made our nation strong, beautiful and noble. The people who used to live on this land after Baptism of the Kievan Rus by Holy Prince Vladimir, embellished not only their homeland but the entire world. Why? Because the world does not rest on criminals or people with low morality. The world rests upon the faithful who are loyal to God, being pure in heart and mind; those, who accept with gratitude everything they receive from God, and who live among other people with patience and humbleness.”

The Primate warned everybody against heresies and mispersuasions, which the enemy of the human race has proliferated in a huge number since the times of apostolic preaching on the earth.

According to Metropolitan Onufriy, even today they are trying to replace the true faith. “God said there would come the time when they will say, “The Lord is there. He is in the desert. Or He is in the hiding-rooms.” The Lord warns us against this, since Christ hides neither in the desert nor in the hiding-room. He is with us and among us forever. But we should be loyal to Him. We should not accept any false teachings, misguiding thinking – for they do harm to a human,” said His Beatitude.

Apostle Andrew heralded everything what a human being needs for his salvation, and this faith is preserved within our Church,” he underscored. – Our sole task is to build our life based on the principles of this holy faith at least in a little way.”

“May God help us, dear brothers and sisters, thanks to the intercession of Apostle Andrew, to preserve the purity of the holy Orthodox faith in these complicated times. Whatever one could speak of us, we must preserve this purity, since by doing so we attract God’s grace upon ourselves and all who are near us, upon the whole Ukraine – our Homeland. Living by faith, we prepare ourselves for the beatific eternity,” emphasized Metropolitan Onufriy.