On the radiant night of the “Feast of feasts and Triumph of triumphs,” the Paschal Matins and the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom were presided over by the Holy Archimandrite of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

After the resounding and repeated singing of “Christ is Risen!”, Matins began, followed by the Divine Liturgy. During the festal services, concelebrating with the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were the Administrator of the UOC, Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary, a host of hierarchs, as well as the brethren and guests of the monastery in sacred rank.

The hymns during the services were performed by the choir of the Kyiv Metropolia and the Kyiv Theological Schools.

The Holy Fire from the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem was brought to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The Primate met the shrine at the threshold of the church and lit a lamp from it. The Holy Fire was then distributed to the faithful present.

During the singing of the Paschal stichera at the end of Matins, the First Hierarch distributed red eggs to the faithful, greeting each one with the joyful words: “Christ is Risen!”

During the service, the Paschal Homily of St John Chrysostom was traditionally read, as well as the Paschal Epistle of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry to the archpastors, pastors, monastics, and all the faithful children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in which the Primate called upon his flock:

“Let us hurry up, dear brothers and sisters, to the returned Paradise and remember that bliss is neither in earthly pleasures or amusements nor in high offices; there are only promises in them but not bliss itself. Bliss is only in God and with God, and no matter who a person is or what he owns, he can find true bliss only if he loves God and trusts Him in his heart.”

At the conclusion of the services, a prayer for the blessing of Paschal breads, eggs, and other foods was read, after which they were sprinkled with holy water.

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