On the great feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, the divine services at the Church of St. Agapitus of the Caves were led by the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Archimandrite of the Lavra was concelebrated by Archbishop Mark of Borodyanka, as well as the brethren and guests of the monastery in holy orders, headed by the monastery dean, Archimandrite Hilarion. On the preceding evening, the First Hierarch led the All-Night Vigil with the festive Litiya.

After the reading of the Gospel, the Head of the UOC addressed the faithful with a primatial sermon, recalling the Gospel account of the Transfiguration of the Lord and its significance for our salvation.

“The Lord revealed the glory, majesty, and beauty of His Divinity on Mount Tabor,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful. “Through this, the Lord showed us that, in order to be worthy of beholding the beauty of the divine nature, its majesty and glory, a person must rise above what is earthly and transient. He must ascend the mountain of perfection. May the Lord help us, dear brothers and sisters, to ascend through faith, hope, and love for God to the heights of spiritual perfection and purity of heart, and to become capable of seeing the glory of God and following the path that leads a person to salvation in Heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

The brotherhood service at the Church of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Joy of All Who Sorrow” was led by the monastery treasurer, Archimandrite Nestor, concelebrated by the brethren in holy orders.

Following the services, the traditional prayer for the blessing of grapes and other fruits was read, after which the faithful were sprinkled with holy water.

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