Serbian Patriarch congratulates Met. Onuphry on anniversary of enthronement
The Primate of the UOC is a shepherd who is not afraid of wolves, said Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia.
On August 17, 2021, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Porfirije, congratulated His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the 7th anniversary of his enthronement, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.
“Our dear brother and co-server in Christ,” said Patriarch Porfirije to the Primate of the UOC. “We are glad to congratulate you on the seventh anniversary of your election and enthronement as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, we pray to the holy noble Prince Vladimir, the crusader defender of Kievan Rus’, and the holy Revd. Onuphrius, the heavenly patron of Your Beatitude, to strengthen you in your godly ministry as an archpastor”.
The Serbian Patriarch noted the love and sacrifice with which Metropolitan Onuphry runs the UOC.
“We are witnessing that the ship of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, thanks to your evangelical love and zeal, is steadfastly sailing in the direction of salvation, maintaining the purity of the Orthodox confession of faith, despite the terrible earthly storms and winds,” the message says. “We are also glad to see your pious clergy and the pious flock entrusted to you by your parental love and care, knowing that under the omophorion of an archpastor who is not afraid of wolves, following the words of Christ, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me’ (John 10:14).”
Finally, the Primate of the SOC assured His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry that the Serbian Church is praying for him.
“As witnesses of your archpastoral sacrifice, we pray to God to be your inexhaustible source of faith, hope and love, with which you ennoble the Orthodox people both in Ukraine and throughout the world”.
As reported, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry was also congratulated on the anniversary of his enthronement by Patriarch Kirill, the Primate of the Polish Church, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia and the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
