Lavra abbot celebrates his birthday and episcopal ordination anniversary

Metropolitan Pavel celebrated his birthday in the house church in the village of Voronkov, where he is under house arrest. April 19, 2024 Photo: lavra.ua

On April 19, 2024 Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl prayerfully celebrated his birthday and the anniversary of his hierarchical chiarotony. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was held on this occasion in his house church in the village of Voronkov, Kyiv region, where the UOC hierarch is being under house arrest, reports lavra.ua.

The vicar of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was concelebrated by clerics headed by the clergyman of the Pechersk monastery Archimandrite Anthony. At the end of the service, the jubilarian was honored with "many years" singing.

Metropolitan Pavel was congratulated on his birthday and the anniversary of his hierarchical ordination by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.

"On this blessed day, the Lord has raised Your Holiness to a high degree of Apostolic dignity and bestowed the gracious power to 'preach day by day the salvation of our God'. May the Lord, the giver of all blessings, generously bestow upon Your Holiness long and joyful years of high hierarchical service and God-loving life," reads the congratulatory message of the Primate of the UOC, published on the website of the monastery.

The brethren of the Lavra also congratulated their superior, noting that Vladyka has to "bear the heavy cross of archpastoral ministry in difficult times of change and trials".

The monks mentioned that Vladyka began his episcopal ministry in the era of Church revival, when his strength and skill were needed to restore the destroyed shrines. Today he carries his ministry "on the ruins of human hearts that require healing and rebirth in the Holy Spirit."

"We are going through challenging times. The Holy Fathers teach that a Christian in times of trial should not ask God for a light burden, but for strong shoulders. The merciful Lord gives us from His hands not only the cross of life, but also His graceful power to bear it", - is said in the message.

The brethren of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery noted that they prayed that the Lord would grant their archpastor strength of mind and body, peace and patience by the intercession of His Most Pure Mother and the Monk Fathers of Pechersk.

Metropolitan Pavel was born on April 19, 1961 in the village of Borbin, Mlynivka district, Rivne region. Vladyka is a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the UOC, vicar of the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and chairman of the Commission for Monasteries. In 1989 he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Paul in honor of St. Paul the First Apostle. On March 30, 1994 he was appointed Vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. In 1997 he headed the Synodal Commission for Monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. By the decision of the Holy Synod of the UOC from June 14, 2011 he was appointed a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the UOC. Today, the Metropolitan steadfastly endures all accusations against him, his stay under house arrest and the obligation to wear an electronic bracelet.

As the UOJ wrote, Metropolitan Paul thanked the Orthodox from around the world for their support.

As reported earlier, Metropolitan Theodosiy told the UN about the repressions against bishops and believers of the UOC.

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