On Sunday, September 13, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Volodymyr Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv. The service took place on the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the 15th Sunday after Pentecost. Various clergy members, including Metropolitan Klyment of Simferopol and Crimea and Bishop Theodosius of Irpin, concelebrated the service.
After the Gospel reading, Metropolitan Epifaniy delivered a homily, emphasizing the challenges Ukraine is currently facing. He offered a special prayer for the nation during these “severe trials and danger.” At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service was conducted at the grave of the late Patriarch Filaret.
Metropolitan Epifaniy posthumously awarded the medal “For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine” to Oleksii Yukov, founder of the Platsdarm search unit, among others.
In his sermon, Metropolitan Epifaniy reflected on Apostle Paul’s teachings, stressing that Christ’s arrival not only granted eternal life but also aimed to renew the world, offering salvation to everyone regardless of their background. He highlighted that the New Covenant established by Christ transcends previous cultural and social divisions, urging the faithful to embrace the Cross as a symbol of faith and a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice.
The service and sermon collectively reaffirmed a commitment to unity and hope amidst current adversities.
