Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine shared a reflection on social media on June 2, 2026, marking the Feast of the Holy Spirit, celebrated on the day following Pentecost in the Orthodox Church.
In his message, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine emphasized the central place of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in the salvation of humanity. He explained that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, not in rank or importance, but in the order in which God revealed Himself to the world—as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Metropolitan Epifaniy reaffirmed the Orthodox confession of faith in the Holy Trinity, describing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as three distinct Persons who fully share the one divine essence. “The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, yet there are not three gods, but one God,” he wrote.
Reflecting on the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout salvation history, the Metropolitan pointed to the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis, where the Spirit of God moved over the waters at creation. He also noted the Spirit’s role in the creation of humanity, recalling that God breathed the breath of life into man.
The Metropolitan stressed that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or energy, but a divine Person with whom believers can enter into a personal relationship. Through the Holy Spirit, he said, Christians receive and experience all that Christ accomplished for the salvation of the world according to the will of the Father.
Describing the Holy Spirit as the giver of life and the soul of the Church, Metropolitan Epifaniy noted that although the Spirit remains invisible, His presence is manifested through tangible spiritual fruits and gifts. Love, mercy, faith, goodness, inner peace, joy, gratitude, and harmony are all signs of the Spirit’s action in human life.
He further emphasized that faith itself is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens believers in prayer and intercedes for them before God. Quoting the Apostle Paul, he reminded the faithful that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness,” guiding Christians in their spiritual lives.
Drawing on the teachings of the Holy Fathers, Metropolitan Epifaniy explained that when the Holy Spirit dwells in a person’s heart, it brings profound peace, tranquility, and divine grace. Conversely, when the heart is overwhelmed by doubts, passions, and worldly concerns, that peace is lost.
Concluding his reflection, the Metropolitan cited the words of Saint Paul: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” He encouraged the faithful never to forget this truth and prayed that, according to God’s promise, the grace of the All-Holy Spirit would remain with all believers.
