In the picturesque village of Mezhyhirya, Sambir district, Lviv region, stands the St. Onuphrius Stavropegial Monastery, which joined the family of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2019.
Today, on the second day of his visit to the Lviv region, Metropolitan Epifaniy visited the monastic community and consecrated the cornerstone for the construction of a church in honor of St. Onuphrius the Great, a prominent ascetic of the 4th century and one of the Fathers of the Church.
Metropolitan Epifaniy was concelebrated by Metropolitan Makariy of Lviv, Metropolitan Dymytriy of Lviv and Sokal, Archbishop Yakiv of Drohobych and Sambir, and Hieromonk Nikon (Koshil), acting abbot of St. Onuphrius Monastery. During the service, the clergy and faithful offered prayers for the defenders of Ukraine, for the Ukrainian people, and for victory over the aggressor.
Addressing the Mezhyhirya community, Metropolitan Epifaniy emphasized the importance of common prayer and the central role of the Church in a Christian’s life. He expressed gratitude to benefactors, patrons, builders, and all those who, according to their abilities, are contributing to this God-pleasing and significant work of constructing a new church.
“The church is a special, God-consecrated place for each of us — the house of God. The Holy Fathers call the church ‘a piece of heaven on earth.’ It is here that we gather as a community, and the Lord said: ‘Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20).
In church, we celebrate the holy mysteries of the Church: most importantly, we partake of the Lord’s Table in the Eucharist, visibly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Through confession, we receive forgiveness of sins. In baptism, a person is spiritually reborn to participate in the Church for eternal life, and it is also in church that a person’s earthly life is concluded with the funeral service.
We see, therefore, that the church is indeed a unique and sacred place for every Christian, and this is why the building of the Lord’s house is such an important and God-pleasing task,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy.
The Primate noted that the church will stand even when its builders are no longer on this earth, yet their memory will live on through prayers offered here for all who contributed to its construction: patrons, founders, and benefactors.
“Each of us must contribute to this great work, laying our own ‘brick,’ whether through prayer, support, or wise counsel,” he remarked.
Metropolitan Epifaniy also pointed out that this place is especially blessed because it is constantly filled with monastic prayer and the spiritual light of ascetic life:
“This is why people are drawn here; no one goes to an empty well for water. Here we draw invisible divine grace and feel the special presence of God. And when we feel this, we are truly happy, for we can only be truly happy together with God and in God,” he emphasized.
In addition to consecrating the cornerstone, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine presented a decree appointing Hieromonk Nikon (Koshil) as the abbot of the Stavropegial St. Onuphrius Monastery in Mezhyhirya.
The Primate also offered a litia (memorial service) for the repose of the soul of Archimandrite Sebastian, who served as the long-time abbot of this monastery and has departed to eternal life.
Source: pomisna
