Primate of UOC: Whoever loves God the most, loves their people

Metropolitan Onuphry. Photo: screenshot from the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On November 23, 2023, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry stated that the person who does not love God does not love their people either, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

In his Sunday sermon, the Primate explained that love for God and one's people are connected: "A person who loves God the most loves their land, their people. And a person who does not love God does not love their land, does not love their people."

He explained that "God created the earth, God created man. If we love God, we can pray to God to send blessings to our people and land."

"If we do not love God, then we offend Him, repel the Divine grace from ourselves and from those who are near us," emphasized Metropolitan Onuphry.

According to him, without this grace, a person cannot live: "He seems to exist, physically exists, but he does not live without grace, because without it, there is no life!"

"Life is existence, plus such feelings as joy, happiness, peace, love. When a person has these feelings within himself, he lives. And if these feelings are not there, then he does not live but exists," said the Primate of the UOC.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Metropolitan Onuphry, a Christian helps everyone, even atheists and pagans.

Read also

US helps restore Orthodox church in Turkey after earthquake

Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines

Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat

Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.

Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center

The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."

OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media

OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.

Kamianske Eparchy commemorates New Martyr Ioann Mohylevsky