UOC Primate officiates Liturgy of the Lord's Cross Procession Feast in Lavra
After the service, Metropolitan Onuphry blessed honey and herbs, which the faithful traditionally bring to churches on this day.
On the Feast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord and the Commemoration of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs, August 14, 2025, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Agapitus Church of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the UOC Information and Education Department reports.
Concelebrating with the Primate were Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the UOC, Bishop Lavr of Irpin, Bishop Mark of Borodianka, and the monastery clergy.
After the reading of the Holy Gospel, His Beatitude, in his homily, called on the faithful to follow the example of the ancient martyrs in striving for holiness through the keeping of the divine commandments.
During the service, prayers were offered for peace in the Ukrainian land, for deliverance from the enemy, and for God’s blessing upon people of goodwill who help those in need. The Primate asked the Lord to show mercy to the Ukrainian people, to grant wisdom to the authorities, courage to the soldiers, freedom to captives, healing to the sick, and shelter to those deprived of their homes.
Following the Liturgy, clergy and faithful venerated the Precious Cross.
Metropolitan Onuphry blessed honey and herbs and sprinkled the parishioners and pilgrims of the Lavra with holy water.
As the UOJ has reported, churches today hold special services with the bringing out of the Cross for the veneration of the faithful. Traditionally, during the water-blessing service on this day, honey and herbs are blessed.
