UOC Primate officiates Transfiguration of the Lord Feast at Kyiv Lavra
On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, His Beatitude Onuphry spoke about the significance of this event for Christians and performed the traditional consecration of grapes and fruits.
On August 19, 2021, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine led the solemn Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Agapitus of the Caves in the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. This was reported by the UOC's Information and Education Department.
Concelebrating with the Primate were Metropolitan Meletiy, Head of the UOC's Department for External Church Relations; Metropolitan Anthony, Chancellor of the UOC; Metropolitan Joasaph of Vasylkiv; Metropolitan Philaret of Lviv and Galicia; Bishop Lavr of Irpin; Bishop Mark of Borodianka; Bishop Athanasiy of Kamin-Kashyrsky, along with the clergy of the monastery and guest clergy.
After the Gospel reading, Metropolitan Onuphry addressed the congregation with a pastoral message, reminding them of the Gospel event of the Transfiguration of the Lord and its significance for salvation.
During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, for deliverance from the enemy, for God’s mercy upon those in despair and those who have lost their homes, and for the blessing of those who help those in need. The Primate asked God for mercy for the Ukrainian people, to grant wisdom to the authorities, to strengthen the courage of the soldiers, to free the captives, to heal the sick, and to shelter those deprived of their homes.
In conclusion, Metropolitan Onuphry wished all those present: “May our faith, hope, and love for God help us spiritually transform and reach that spiritual level where a person is worthy to see the Divine glory with enlightened eyes!”
After the service, the Primate blessed the grapes and other fruits brought by the faithful and sprinkled the congregation with holy water.
As reported by the UOJ, the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19. On this day, believers remember the Gospel event when on Mount Tabor, the apostles John, Peter, and James witnessed Christ in all His divine, eternal glory.
