Kiev, March 3, 2025
Photo: uoc-news.church
As every year, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has blessed the faithful to take up a special Lenten prayer rule for spiritual growth and for peace.
In his Lenten address, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, blesses the faithful to “to read one chapter from the Holy Scripture and make seven bows with the Lord’s Prayer for peace in Ukraine” every day.
And further, “For a more comprehensive spiritual understanding, we bless to read the Gospel of St. John, the three Catholic Epistles of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, and the Apocalypse (Revelation) of St. John the Theologian.”
His full Lenten address reads:
Beloved in Christ children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church!
By the blessing of God, we have approached the beginning of the Holy and Great Lent.
Great Lent is a special forty-day period in the life of the entire Church and of every believing person, which prepares us to worthily meet the Feast of feasts and the Triumph of triumphs—the Bright Resurrection of Christ. We are embarking on the paths of spiritual feats and fervent prayers so as to, according to the Holy Apostle Paul, put off, concerning our former conduct, the old man and put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:22, 24).
In the coming days, we ought to become better, cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of sin. That is why the Church of Christ inspires and strengthens us on the paths of repentance in a special way, through the greatness and beauty of Lenten worship. Great Lent is the most favorable time to take part in the saving Mystery of Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. Only Christ can cleanse us from the burden of sins. He is the Source of inspiration for living according to the instructions of the Holy Gospel and the Giver of strength to gain a faith unashamed and a love unfeigned.
For a fourth year now, we are embarking on the path of Lenten transfiguration of our souls in the circumstances of war. Let us strive that this Lent may become a time of goodness and mercy for all of us, dear brothers and sisters: Let us wipe away the tears of the crying, comfort the sorrowful, and cover with our love everyone who needs it. Then the evil which has covered our Motherland with clouds of blackness will definitely be dispersed by the sun of the triumphant justice of God.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—the Leader of the salvation of man—grant all of us to fight the good fight, to complete the course of the fast, to preserve the faith undivided … to be shown to be conquerors of sins, and without condemnation also to attain unto and to worship the Holy Resurrection (Prayer behind the Ambo at the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts).
Every day throughout the period of the Holy and Great Lent, we bless to read one chapter from the Holy Scripture and make seven bows with the Lord’s Prayer for peace in Ukraine. For a more comprehensive spiritual understanding, we bless to read the Gospel of ST. John, the three Catholic Epistles of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian, and the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) of St. John the Theologian.
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Source: Orthodox Christianity