On Great Thursday Primate of UOC raises prayers for prisoners of war

On April 13, on Holy and Great Thursday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine led the Divine Liturgy at the Refectory Church of St. Anthony and Theodosius of the Holy Dormition of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

After reading the Holy Gospel, the Primate addressed the flock with the word of the sermon. His Beatitude reminded believers of the evangelical events that are remembered on Holy Thursday, explained the necessity of humility in spiritual life and the importance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist: "We receive the Body of Christ and drink His Blood, because it is the pledge, the leaven for eternity".

The archpastor especially prayed for the Ukrainian military, who are in captivity.

During the Liturgy, a special prayer was offered for peace in Ukraine.

On Holy Thursday, the Church recalls several important events from the life of our Savior: the Last Supper, in which the Lord established the Sacrament of the Eucharist and washed the disciples' feet, giving us an example of humility and love for others, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the treacherous kiss of Judas by which he gave the Divine Teacher to suffering and death.