His Beatitude: The Lord awaits determination and obedience from bishops

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry hands a staff to Bishop Anastasiy of Ovidiopol, Vicar of the Odesa Eparchy. Photo: uoc-news.church

In his address on presenting the staff to Bishop Anastasiy of Ovidiopol, Vicar of the Odesa Eparchy, on October 27, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry noted that the Bishop has been called to the episcopate, a special ministry in the Church – to be an example for the faithful in word, in life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

As His Beatitude said, the All-Merciful Lord always expects complete obedience from Christians, especially from bishops. In the Gospel, the Lord frequently addresses people with a singular call: follow Me.

"A bishop must respond to the call of the Savior with determination, both in word and in deed. Once he has accepted this call, he must be a role model for others," he emphasized.

"St. Demetrius of Rostov speaks of bishops: He who wishes to kindle love for the Lord in others must himself not be ice, but burn, like a Seraphim, with Divine desire. He who wishes to enlighten others must not be darkness, but light. Thus the Lord also says to pastors and teachers in the Gospel: 'You are the light of the world' (Matt. 5:14)." He further cited St. John Chrysostom: "A leader should shine brighter than any luminary and live a life free of blemish, so that all, seeing him, may imitate him in their own lives," continued the Primate of the UOC in his guidance.

Addressing the newly elected hierarch, His Beatitude said: "Many times in your life, you have accepted the Lord's call. In Baptism, the Lord called you to preserve purity through repentance, in monastic life – to perfection, in priesthood – to serve Him, and in teaching spiritual disciplines, the Lord taught you patience with others. But in answering the call to episcopacy, a greater responsibility is laid upon you, for you must not only preserve all of this but also multiply it through firm commitment to bearing a heavy obedience."

"Accept this staff, and let it remind you of your resolve to answer the Divine call, so that through your personal obedience to the Church, you and your flock may be saved," he concluded.

As previously reported, an episcopal consecration for the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC was recently held in Kyiv.

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