NEW YORK: 9 December, 2023
The Synod of Bishops sends a greeting to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine on the 33rd anniversary of his consecration

On Saturday, 9 December 9, 2023, the Synod of Bishops, headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, adopted the text of a greeting address to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine as follows:

Your Beatitude Dear Vladyka!

As we prepare for the feast of great joy (Luke 2:10), we fraternally kiss Your Holiness in the Lord and most cordially greet you on the anniversary of your personal Pentecost, prayerfully wishing you good health, good spirits and peace of mind, as one respected throughout the Orthodox world!

Following with profound alarm and pain the events on the territory of Ukraine: the military conflict, the repression of Orthodox Christians and the sufferings of "peaceful lands" (Psalms 34:20), we extend to you the hand of support and brotherly love, placing all our hope in God, Who has spoken peace to His people (Psalms 84:9). May this peace of God reign in the hearts of men, and may those who love the law of God have great peace (Psalms 118:165)!

Prayerfully uniting with you, we stand before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," asking you to strengthen your strength for the great service of all Holy Orthodoxy, which in these difficult times is so in need of the blessed unity of its Local Churches.

Having accepted the text of the congratulations, the Synod of Bishops sent it to the Chancery of the Kiev Metropolia.