On May 12, 2025, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine shared a heartfelt message on social media to mark his name day, commemorating the feast of his heavenly patron, Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus — a revered Father and Teacher of the Church, as recognized by the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
“With all my heart, I thank you for the kind and warm wishes extended to me today, on the feast day of my heavenly protector, Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus,” the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine wrote. “This saint, whom the Church honors as a father and teacher, remains for me a true model of archpastoral service.”
Reflecting on the life and legacy of Saint Epiphanius, the Metropolitan emphasized the deep personal and ecclesial significance of the day: “His example is a reminder of the calling and immense responsibility I bear in affirming the autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, entrusted to me as its Primate, of supporting the faithful in difficult times, of preserving unity, and of resisting false teachings and heresies — dangers that remain real, as we clearly see in the destructive ideology of the so-called ‘Russian world.’”
He expressed deep appreciation for all those who make up the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: “I thank the entire family of our Church — laity and monastics, clergy and bishops, chaplains and volunteers — everyone who makes up the indivisible body of our autocephalous Ukrainian Church. Thank you for our unity, for our conciliarity, for our strength that flows from this unity.”
He underlined that the Primate is not a solitary figure, but a visible expression of the Church’s conciliarity — serving in communion both with the fullness of the local Church and with other Orthodox Patriarchates and Primates around the world. “During our shared prayer and joint liturgy on my name day, by showing unity with the Primate — in prayer, in the sacraments, and in service — we all bear witness to our Church as conciliar, as the Ukrainian part of the one Body of Christ.”
In closing, the Metropolitan offered thanks for the continued support he feels from the faithful, noting the Church’s progress despite many trials: “For six and a half years, we have achieved much together, overcoming challenges and resisting many attacks on our Church. I am confident that by preserving true conciliar unity and mutual understanding, we will achieve even greater things in our service to God, the Church of Christ, and our devout Ukrainian people.”
“With God’s help, inspired by the spiritual example of my heavenly patron and other saints of the Church, and with your prayers and good intentions as my strength, let us continue this difficult yet righteous and victorious path — for the good of the Church, of Ukraine, and of her people!”
