Sunday services on the feast day of the first Metropolitan of Kyiv, Michael, were led by the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

The Hierarch was joined by bishop Lavr of Irpin, bishop Mark of Borodyanka, and the brotherhood and guests of the monastery in the sacred rank.

After the reading of the Gospel, which recounted the “golden rule” of human coexistence on Earth, the Head of the UOC reminded the faithful of the importance of being merciful like our Heavenly Father, who is “kind to the ungrateful and evil” (Luke 6:35).

“There is sacrificial love in Christianity,” continued the Head of the UOC. “This is Divine love; God has loved us so much (see John 3:16). He gives us everything, while we give Him nothing in return. The only thing we can do is to thank God, but we cannot return to the Lord what He sends us. The Creator has granted us life, various tangible and intangible blessings by which we exist and move and can enjoy the beauty of His creation. The only thing we can and should give to God is gratitude. As long as we live, we should thank God, and since we have received eternal life, we should thank Him forever.”

During the service, special prayers were offered for the granting of peace and tranquillity in our Ukrainian land, for deliverance from all enemies and adversaries, and for God’s blessing upon those who have been forced to leave their homes and have found refuge with others.

After the Liturgy, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy thanked the bishops and clergy for their prayers, congratulated everyone on the feast and the communicants on receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and invoked God’s blessing upon the flock.

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