His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy expressed his condolences in relation to the Russian bombardment of Odesa on the night of 23 July 2023, as a result of which people died and the cathedral church of the city was destroyed. In his word to the clergy and flock of the Odesa Diocese and all residents of Odesa, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church urged not to forget that however horrible this age might be, God’s Love would be victorious in the end, and assured of his prayers for the repose of the souls of the dead, the healing of the victims, and the giving of strength to the faithful and all residents of Odesa to overcome the trials worthily.
The Information and Education Department of the UOC publishes the text of the Primate’s condolences:
TO HIS EMINENCE
MOST EMINENT AGATHANGEL
METROPOLITAN OF ODESA AND IZMAIL
PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE HOLY SYNOD
TO THE CLERGY, MONASTICS AND BELIEVERS OF THE ODESA DIOCESE
TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ODESA
Your Eminence!
Dear fathers, brothers and sisters!
It was with deep sadness that we received the news of another enemy attack upon the city of Odesa, in consequence of which the cathedral church of the Holy Transfiguration of the Saviour, residential houses and other buildings were destroyed. Especially painful is the fact that this night, people died again, there were many wounded and hospitalised persons. Please accept my sincere condolences in relation to this great tragedy.
At one time, you, dear Vladyka Agathangel, together with the clergy and believers of the city of Odesa, put tremendous effort and health into restoring and rebuilding the cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration of the Saviour in all its beauty. I feel for you, your flock and everybody to whom this masterpiece of Christian church architecture, which holds a special place among the monuments of architecture of the all-Ukrainian cultural heritage, is dear.
Anyone who aims at the sky ultimately hits himself.
I call upon all of you, my dear, to patience and fervent prayer. Let us tame our anger, not letting it turn into blind hatred. Let us not forget that, however horrible this age may be, God’s Love, which neither lies and violence can destroy, will be victorious in the end.
Sharing with Your Eminence and the people of Odesa the grief from the tragedy that befell the city, I offer up prayers to the Merciful Creator for the repose of the souls of the dead, the healing of the victims, and the giving of strength to you to overcome worthily the trials which have befallen your lot.
With love in Christ,
+ONUFRIY
METROPOLITAN OF KYIV AND ALL UKRAINE
PRIMATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
23 July 2023, the city of Kyiv
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