Kiev, June 14, 2019
Photo: news.church.ua
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, honored a number of “mother-heroines” at his residence at the Kiev Caves Lavra yesterday.
The primate received the matushkas of the priests of the Kiev Diocese who have raised 5 or more children, congratulating them with the feast of the Ascension and wishing each family peace, mutual understanding, and good health, reports the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Met. Onuphry also awarded the matushkas with high Church awards for their labors for the good of the Church, who in turn thanked him for the awards and his pastoral care and told His Beatitude about the Lord’s generosity and mercy by which He gladdens their families in these difficult times.
Photo: news.church.ua
At the end of the meeting, the Ukrainian primate distribute gifts to all the children and gave them his archpastoral blessing.
In December 2017, Met. Onuphry told the clergy of the Kiev Diocese that he agreed to start a tradition whereby he baptizes the fifth and higher child in large families, similar to the tradition of His Holiness Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II of Georgia’s to baptize the third and higher child of large families.
Met. Onuphry also visits orphans and special needs children several times a year, most recently in honor of the feast of Pascha.
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