Greetings of Metropolitan Tikhon to Metropolitan Onufriy of Ukraine on the anniversary of his election and enthronement
His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon congratulated His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the joint occasions of the 6th Anniversaries of his election and enthronement as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
August 13, 2020
08/009
His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Onufriy
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine
вулиця Лаврська, 15
Київ, 01015
Your Beatitude, Dear Brother and Concelebrant in the Lord’s Mysteries:
Christ is in our midst!
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ on the joint occasions of the 6th Anniversaries of your election and enthronement as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. May the days’ celebration be filled with the joy of our Risen Lord! Many years, Dear Vladyka!
Leading the Church of Ukraine through a difficult period in her history, you have given the contemplative, monastic life as an example for your people. Rather than being “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”, you have revealed to all that the acquisition of humility must be the principle effort of Christians, so that the fruit of humility may be received: the true joy and self-emptying love for all that Christ brings. Certainly, the love in Christ that you have for your flock is evident to all. This love that you have for them as their leader and father in the Lord Jesus Christ “does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right”, and indeed “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7). May you always continue in this life, following the examples of Seraphim of Sarov, Xenia of St. Petersburg, Herman of Alaska, the Chorus of the Fathers of the Kyiv Caves, and countless other saints! May your love in Christ, acquired through many years of ascetic efforts, always continue to grow! And may your flock be inspired to increase in humility and love through your example!
With warmest regards and best wishes, I remain
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
+Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada