Metropolitan Onuphry officiates Nativity service at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, the Information and Education Department of the UOC reports.

The festive service took place in the church dedicated to Venerable Agapitus of the Caves. Concelebrating with the Primate were the UOC Chancellor Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary; Archbishops Sylvester of Bilohorodka, Spyridon of Dobropillia, Lavr of Irpin, and Mark of Borodianka – as well as the monastery clergy.

Many parishioners and pilgrims of the monastery gathered for the Christmas Liturgy. During the service, prayers were offered for peace on Ukrainian soil, for God’s blessing upon the Ukrainian people, for deliverance from the enemy, and for the defender-warriors.

After the Communion hymn, Archbishop Sylvester of Bilohorodka read aloud His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry’s Christmas message to all the faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. At the conclusion of the service, the rite of glorification was performed before the icon of the Nativity of Christ.

After the worship, the Primate congratulated the faithful on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. On the eve of the feast, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry also celebrated the service of the Nativity Eve at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, the Primate of the UOC reminded the faithful that the Lord came to save not only the righteous, but sinners as well.