UOC Primate leads the festive liturgy in Lavra
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, co-served by hierarchs and clergy of the UOC, celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Lord’s Transfiguration.
On 19 August 2023, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine led the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.
The festive service was held at the Church of St Agapitus of the Caves. The Primate was co-served by Metropolitan Joasaph of Vasylkivsk, Bishop Laurus of Irpin, Bishop Mark of Borodianka, the delegation of the Orthodox Church in America, the clergy of the monastery and guests in holy orders.
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, His Beatitude addressed the flock with a sermon in which he explained to the faithful the significance of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor.
During the liturgy, they prayed for peace in the Ukrainian land. The Primate asked God's mercy to the Ukrainian people, that the Lord would wise the authorities, strengthen the courage of the soldiers, release the captives, heal the sick and shelter those who are deprived of a home.
During the liturgy, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry ordained Archdeacon Sergiy (Buryan), a cleric of the Kyiv Diocese, to the priesthood.
After the liturgy, the Primate read special prayers asking for the blessing of the fruit of the new harvest. The Archpastor sprinkled the flock, as well as grapes and fruit that the faithful had brought, with holy water.
As earlier reported, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
