PRIMATE OF THE UOC: IF A PERSON DOESN’T FOLLOW GOD’S PATH, EVEN IF HE ACQUIRES ALL THE POSSESSIONS IN THE WORLD, HE WON’T FIND PEACE OF SOUL

Union of Orthodox Journalists – August 2016

Only the blessing of God makes man happy. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Russia spoke about this in his homily on the first day of the Dormition Fast, August 14, reports the Information-Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Onuphry noted that on that day the Holy Church carries forth the Precious Wood of the Cross of the Lord, on which was accomplished our salvation. “The holy Cross is borne forth that we might prostrate before it, and receive this blessed strength which a man needs to fittingly carry out his earthly life,” he emphasized.

His Beatitude noted that for a person to receive the blessing of God he must live according to the commandments. “That person who walks the Divine path may be rich or poor, learned or simple—whatever he is—he is joyful,” His Beatitude said. “To others it might seem he is suffering, but such a person is blessed.”

Conversely, that person who lives according to his own laws has no joy in his life. “If a person doesn’t walk on that path, then even were he to acquire every possession in the world, he won’t find peace for himself in his soul. Outwardly he may seem cheerful and happy but in fact he is suffering and is already tasting the first-fruits of hell,” Metropolitan Onuphry said.

“May the Lord help us to walk this path, where there is the blessing of God, and where, at the end of this path, there awaits us salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ,” called His Beatitude.

Around five thousand pilgrims gathered on August 14 to receive the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry who served the Liturgy in the St. Anna’s Convent in the city of Vashkovtsy in the Chernivtsi region.