On the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, and on the day of the commemoration of the translation of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew (Nathanael) (6th c.) and the Apostle Titus of the Seventy, Bishop of Crete (1st c.), the Divine Services in the Lavra church in honour of St Agapitus of the Caves were headed by the Holy Archimandrite of the Kyiv-Caves Monastery, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the UOC was concelebrated by the Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary, Archbishop Lavr of Irpin, Archbishop Mark of Borodianka, as well as brethren and guests of the monastery in the sacred rank.

After the reading of the Gospel, the Head of the UOC addressed the faithful with a homily, explaining the meaning of the parable read on this day:

“The Church gathers all who wish to enter the Kingdom of God. In Her there are all the conditions to become partakers of the Heavenly Kingdom. Living in the Church, we must bear spiritual fruits. They are borne at different times, but the fruit of love must be borne always. Love is the essence of human life. The Lord Himself is Love. If there is no love, there is no life. Spiritual love for God and neighbour is sacrificial. Dwelling in the bosom of the Holy Church of Christ, may the Lord help us, dear brothers and sisters, to bring forth good fruits and thus be granted to become heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom!” – wished to all who prayed the Head of the UOC.

During the Liturgy, special petitions were lifted up for the granting of peace and tranquillity to our Ukrainian land, for deliverance from every enemy and adversary, and for God’s blessing upon those who are receiving in their homes the people forced to leave their native dwellings.

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