Metropolitan Tikhon sends greetings to newly elected Ukrainian Primate
In a letter dated August 13, 2014, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon sent greetings to the newly elected Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Eminence, Metropolitan Onufry.
Metropolitan Onufry was elected to the See of Kyiv and All Ukraine on the second round of voting during a special session of the Bishops’ Council convened at the Lavra of the Kyiv Caves on August 13. The Council was attended by over 80 ruling and auxiliary bishops.
Metropolitan Onufry succeeds His Beatitude, Metropolitan Volodymyr, who fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 78 on July 5, 2014 after a lengthy illness. Upon Metropolitan Volodymyr’s repose, Metropolitan Onufry, who served the Diocese of Chernivtsi and Bukovina, was named Locum Tenens.
While additional information will be forthcoming, the text of Metropolitan Tikhon’s letter appears below, as well as in PDF format.
GREETINGS OF METROPOLITAN TIKHON TO METROPOLITAN ONUFRY
August 13, 2014
08/011
His Eminence, Onufry
Metropolitan-elect of Kyiv and All Ukraine
Lavra of the Kyiv Caves
Kyiv, Ukraine
Your Eminence:
On this day of your election as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, we send to you the heart-felt congratulations of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, and the clergy, monastics, and laity of our Church.
Together with our congratulations we send to you assurances of prayers for your ministry as Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at this difficult and challenging time. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church will depend on your wise leadership and your spiritual discernment in order to make her witness for peace and justice a witness of truth and healing for the Ukrainian nation and society.
We pledge to you our readiness to accompany Your Eminence and your holy church in every way possible and useful.
Axios! Axios! Axios!
With love in the Lord,
Your Eminence’s brother in Christ,
+ Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada