Heads of Local Churches congratulate Primate of UOC on 34th anniversary of episcopal ordination

The Heads of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia congratulated the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, on the 34th anniversary of his episcopal ordination. The first hierarchs noted the high spirituality and sacrificial work of the Primate of the UOC. This was reported by the official website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“Dear brother and concelebrant in Christ, on behalf of the fullness of the Serbian Orthodox Church and on our own behalf, please accept my sincere and heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the thirty-fourth anniversary of your episcopal ordination. In your faithful service to the flock of God, we recognize the image of a good shepherd and pray to the Lord to strengthen you in your noble ministry, so that you may continue this great work as before, and grant you peace, health and strength in all that you do for His glory, for the good and salvation of the pious people entrusted to you. With a prayer in my heart and on my lips that peace may soon come to your long-suffering homeland, I cry out: Many and blessed years!”, — the Primate of the Serbian Church, Patriarch Porfirije, wrote in a letter.

In turn, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Metropolitan Rostislav, noted the efforts and labors of Metropolitan Onufriy, wishing him perseverance and long years of service for the benefit of Christ’s Church.

“In your person, the people of God and the God-loving clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have received a loving father, a wise archpastor and a diligent worker. With your characteristic calmness and unwavering hope in God, you fulfill your ministry, showing sincere care for the Vertograd of Christ. I wish you prayerful joy, dear Beatitude, I wish you the strength of archpastoral powers, long life and inexhaustible help of God in the labors, prayers and intercession of all the venerable fathers of the Kyiv Caves and all the saints who have shone in the land of Ukraine,” — Metropolitan Rostislav wrote in a letter.

As reported, on September 17, 2024, during a reception of a pilgrimage group at his residence, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem spoke in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The First Hierarch noted the feat of the Ukrainian bishops who are going through trials, pointing out the need to resolve church crises and restore the unity of Orthodoxy.