The one who gives generously makes himself able and generously to receive Divine gifts - sermon of the Primate (video)translated

September 3, 2026 · 1 min read

During the Divine Liturgy in the capital's church in honor of the Illuminated Image of the Mother of God, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius of Kyiv and All Ukraine addressed the believers with a sermon in which he told the unique story of the Illuminated Icon and called on believers to turn to the Most Holy Theotokos with prayer, especially during life's sorrows and trials. MORE about this →

Source: Ukrainian Orthodox Church — church.ua · Read the full story →

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Константин Смирнов

Спаси Господи за проповідь. Особливо запам’яталось, як Блаженніший розповів історію Світлописаної ікони — не знав, що вона так тісно пов’язана з молитвою в скорботах. Буду старатися частіше звертатися до Богородиці, коли важко, а не тільки в храмі.

Thomas Taylor

Yeah, that part about the icon's history really stuck with me too. Never knew it came from such a direct tie to people praying through hard times. Makes me want to stop and ask the Mother of God for help the next time work gets overwhelming, instead of just pushing through on my own.

Teodora Jovanović

The truth is, that story with the icon also affected me. Before, I did not know that Svitlopysana is so connected with prayer in sorrows. I will try not to wait until everything is already very difficult, but to turn to the Mother of God earlier, as the bishop says.

Тимофей Семёнов

Thanks, interesting sermon. I especially remembered how the Blessed One told that the Svitlopysan icon appeared precisely because of prayers in sorrows. This happened to me myself last year, when something was constantly breaking at work with electricity - I began to ask the Mother of God for help, and it really became easier. I will try not to postpone until the last.

Максим Иванов

Thank you, Timofey, for sharing your story. I also had a couple of times with deliveries in Novosibirsk - when everything fell out of my hands and the car stalled, I prayed in front of the icon of the Mother of God, and the day got better. Tell me, do you now pray in advance every time or do you still sometimes wait until the last minute?

Максим Воробьёв

Thank you, Maxim, for your story about Novosibirsk. It happened to me too: you go fishing near Moscow, everything doesn’t go well, but when you pray in front of the icon, the fishing rods don’t get tangled, and the bite comes. What icon of the Mother of God do you most often keep in your car?

Галина Попова

Thank you, Timofey, for telling us about your story with electricians. It happened to me too: when my son was in the hospital with inflammation last year, every evening I lit a candle in front of the icon and asked the Mother of God for help - and it really did feel better faster than the doctors expected. Are you now trying to thank her as soon as she feels better, or are you just asking?