The "BARRISTERS" Law Firm congratulated Epiphanius on his accession to the throne as Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

The “BARRISTERS” Law Firm sincerely congratulates Epiphanius on his accession to the Kyiv throne. It is very important that today we have the opportunity to offer yet another congratulations. We congratulate you on your 40th birthday. We wish you strength, wisdom, understanding, and support.

A ceremony marking the enthronement of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, took place at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

The ceremony took place during the Divine Liturgy, attended by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, representing the Ecumenical Patriarch; former Primate of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Makariy; as well as Metropolitan Simeon (a former representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church—Moscow Patriarchate), who took turns enthroning Metropolitan Epiphanius on the throne.

Afterward, Epiphanius was presented with the insignia of the primate’s office. Specifically, the cross was presented by Metropolitan John of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn, and the panagia (a small icon of the Mother of God) was presented by Metropolitan Yuri (Kalyishchuk), who heads the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada under the omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; a second panagia was presented by Metropolitan Anthony, also under the omophorion of Constantinople.

The right to wear a second panagia is a privilege reserved for the primates of local churches. Once these ecclesiastical symbols were bestowed, the enthronement was complete, and Metropolitan Epiphanius became the full-fledged primate of the local Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The enthronement took place at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. It is worth noting that Epiphanius’s enthronement occurred on his birthday. The metropolitan himself explained that this was no coincidence. According to him, this date was chosen so that in the future his birthday would not be celebrated separately, but rather combined with the day of his enthronement.