His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East sent congratulations to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the day of the ninth anniversary of his enthronement. This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.

“Fraternal congratulations to you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! On the occasion of the ninth anniversary of your election as Metropolitan of Kiev and Primate of the sister Ukrainian Orthodox Church, I send your Beatitude our best and warmest congratulations,” the patriarch wrote.

The hierarch added that the brothers, hierarchs of the Holy Synod of Antioch and all Antiochian believers also conveyed congratulations.

The Primate of the Church of Antioch noted that God, having chosen His Beatitude Onuphry for this service, endowed him with wisdom: “the wisdom that is from above”, the wisdom that “firstly, pure, then peaceful, meek, meek, full of mercy and good fruits, impassive and not hypocritical” (James 3:17). This wisdom that you have is exactly what the blessed Church needs in these difficult times.”

Patriarch John emphasized that the anniversary of the enthronement of the Primate falls at a time when the Ukrainian people are suffering from the misfortune of war, and the Church endures “infirmities, insults, needs, persecutions, oppressions for Christ.”

May “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our sorrow” strengthen your Beatitude and encourage you so that you remain unshakable in the right faith and labors. “Comfort those who are in every affliction” (2 Cor. 1:3-4), so that their hearts will not be troubled or afraid (John 14:27), because Christ has conquered the world. Many and good years!” the Patriarch of Antioch wished.