Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv of Kyiv and all Ukraine shared a spiritual message on social media, reflecting on repentance and the example of Mary of Egypt as the faithful approach the end of Great Lent.
He recalled that Mary of Egypt, once a great sinner in Alexandria, was transformed through sincere repentance and God’s grace, eventually reaching profound holiness. Her life, he said, serves as a powerful reminder that no sin can overcome God’s mercy, and that even deeply rooted sins can be healed through genuine repentance.
The Metropolitan warned that people are often tempted in two ways: first, to believe that sin brings pleasure without consequences, and later, to fall into despair, thinking that repentance is useless and forgiveness impossible. However, he stressed that Mary of Egypt’s example shows the opposite—that recognizing one’s sins should lead not to despair, but to hope and a return to God.
He also emphasized the importance of prayer, fasting, and seeking the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the saints. These, he noted, are the spiritual “weapons” that help believers overcome sin and grow in righteousness.
Concluding his message, Metropolitan Epifaniy encouraged the faithful to continue the struggle against sin not only during Lent but throughout their lives, trusting in God’s mercy and striving for true spiritual renewal.
