This post was originally published on this site
With the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, and the invitation of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv, His Eminence, Archbishop of Benjamin of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West and Fr. Daniel Andrejuk traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, April 16-20, 2019. Archbishop Benjamin represented Metropolitan Tikhon here at the celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the enthronement of Metropolitan Onuphry as metropolitan of Kiev. On August 17, Archbishop Benjamin concelebrated with Metropolitan Onuphry and other hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the Divine Liturgy. On behalf of Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop Benjamin presented Metropolitan Onuphry with an icon and relics of Saint Herman of Alaska at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, and read a letter of congratulations to Metropolitan Onuphry from Metropolitan Tikhon, the text of which appears below.
After the Liturgy, Archbishop Benjamin and Fr. Daniel had the opportunity to meet privately with Metropolitan Onuphry where they discussed matters of common interests and the possibility of future collaboration.
A photo gallery can be viewed on the OCA website and Facebook page.
Congratulatory Greeting of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon to
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv and All Ukraine
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Your Beatitude, Dear Brother and Concelebrant in the Lord’s Mysteries:
Christ is in our midst!
With joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, I congratulate you on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of your enthronement as Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine. May our Lord, through the intercessions of his Holy Mother and all the Saints, always guide your service to the Church, and may His light be found to shine in the pastoral labors you do in His Name.
I ask you to receive His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco, and Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk as representatives of the Orthodox Church in America for this festive event. May their presence, together with the company of all the clergy and faithful gathered with you on this day, inspire and invigorate you and your leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. May the Orthodox of Ukraine in turn, by your example, abide in true Christian love, following the commandment “which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another” (2 John 5).
Many years, Dear Vladyka.
With warmest regards and best wishes in Christ,
+TIKHON
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
