The UOC is going through a period of trials and persecution, but at the same time, with the help of God, it is spiritually growing. Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovchansk said this on May 15, 2021 during his visit to the Poltava diocese and conveyed the blessing of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos to all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovchansk said this on May 15, 2021 during his visit to the Poltava diocese and conveyed the blessing of the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos to all the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
On the feast day of St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Wonderworker of Lubensk, Vladyka concelebrated with Metropolitan Philip of Poltava and Mirgorod during the Divine Liturgy at the Mgarsky Transfiguration Monastery. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.
At the end of the service, a procession of the cross was performed around the church, after which Metropolitan Philip turned to His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel with words of gratitude for the visit to the Mgarsk monastery and joint prayer.
In turn, Metropolitan Gabriel thanked Metropolitan Philip for the invitation to raise his prayers in the historic monastery, and also conveyed the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria to all the faithful, and in his archpastoral speech he emphasized that the only canonical Orthodox Church in Ukraine is the one headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
“His Holiness Patriarch Neophytos of Bulgaria all joyfully blessed me to come and take part (in the service – ed.),” Said the hierarch of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. – I want to congratulate you, dear Vladyka, from the clergy, from the clergy and from the faithful Christians of our diocese, who currently have a special love for your Holy Church. Because your Church is in a time of trial, in a time of persecution, but at the same time you are growing spiritually with the help of God. We take the example of faith from the clergy and people of Ukraine. There is only one Church and this Orthodox Church in Ukraine is represented by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is headed by Metropolitan Onuphry and you are here in your eparchy.”
Vladyka also added that “God’s grace is given only where the canons and dogmas are observed.” “If we do not observe them, we can serve, we can come … but we will not receive grace. <…> The Lord is with you, the Lord gives you joy, the Lord gives salvation,” said Metropolitan Gabriel.