Statement by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry regarding the postponement of the procession on the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in Kiev
Dear Hierarchs,
dear Dean Fathers, abbots of monasteries and abbots of churches,
mother abbess, brothers and sisters!
These days, in fulfillment of our blessing, which was given before the beginning of Great Lent, preparations are underway in all diocesan centers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the first Sunday of Great Lent, when the Triumph of Orthodoxy, processions and prayer stances will be celebrated.
I would like to thank the vicar bishops, clergy, monastics and laity of the Kiev diocese, because we know with what spiritual enthusiasm and responsibility you prepared for the procession, which was to take place in Kiev.
But today it became known that from March 20 of this year, additional quarantine restrictions will be introduced in Kiev, excluding the planned religious procession.
Supporting the metropolitan authorities in an effort to improve the epidemic situation as soon as possible and raising a prayer for this to the Merciful God, we postpone the procession to another more favorable time.
Let’s take this situation as our spiritual test. Let us strengthen the fast, repent of our sins and bear worthy fruits of repentance so that the Lord will heal our bodily and mental infirmities.
I call on all God’s blessing!