Today our Church prayerfully pays tribute to Saint Onuphrius the Great, the heavenly patron of His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufry.

The importance of the spiritual authority the Most Blessed Metropolitan Onufry has in the Orthodox world could hardly be overestimated.

Thanks to this authority, the clergy and laity remain faithful to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the traditions of a truly Christian way of life. They do not lend themselves to tremendous pressure that is put on them in Local Churches.

Deep belief of His Beatitude Onufry in the providence of God, leading the Church and each of us personally, humble gratitude for everything sent by God, severity towards himself and condescending attitude towards his neighbors help His Beatitude steer the church ship, preserving the unity of all the faithful and thus maintaining our Holy Orthodoxy worldwide.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry is for all of us an example of humbleness and humility, love and firmness in matters of preserving the purity of our Faith. His Grace steadfastly and courageously carries out his service to the Lord and to people in the days of severe trials that our Holy Mother Church faces.

I heartily congratulate His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry on the day of his heavenly patron and on his anniversary.

I wish that through the prayers of Onuphrius the Great, the All-merciful Lord would strengthen Our Grace and give him strength and health to carry the heaviest cross of the priestly ministry. I wish him mental and physical strength and patience of us unworthy.

Many years to Our Blessed Grace!