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Program of Events Celebrating 1020th Anniversary of Baptism of Kyivan Rus Presented
17-07-2008
17.07.2008, [15:26] // Inter-Christian relations //
Kyiv- The deputy head of the Secretariat of Ukraine's president, Yurii Bohutskyi, stated that the large scale celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus will promote consolidation of the Ukrainian society. "The celebration is a great occasion to formulate ways to unify Ukraine, not only the Churches, but all of Ukrainian society," said Bohutskyi. He also noted that Ukraine's president, Victor Yushchenko, stressed and continues to stress the importance of such steps.
Talking about the program of events, Bohutskyi noted that on 24 July 2008, the head of the state will meet members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations at the President's Secretariat.
Ceremonial laying of flowers at the Monuments to Princess Olha, St. Andrew the First Called Apostle, Cyril and Methodius, and St. Volodymyr is scheduled for 25 July. Following the laying of flowers, Ukraine's President and Universal Patriarch Bartholomew I will meet with heads of the visiting delegations of foreign Churches at the President's Secretariat.
In the evening, at the Holy Sophia's Cathedral, Bartholomew I will celebrate a service with the participation of the leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and heads of the delegations of local Orthodox Churches. According to Bohutskyi, the service will be preceded by a consecration of bells, which will be lifted to the Belfry of the Holy Sophia and of the newly-restored Royal Doors, which were installed in the cathedral for the occasion of the anniversary.
On 26 July, celebratory events will be held at the Holy Sophia's Square which will include public addresses by Ukraine's president and the Universal Patriarch. The event is expected to be attended by pilgrims from various regions of Ukraine, representatives of the government, the Supreme Council, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, public associations, etc. After that, flowers will be laid at the memorial sign to the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine at St. Michael's Square. Also on that day, an exhibition "Historic Figures of Ukraine" will premier and a presentation of jubilee coins issued for the occasion of the anniversary will be held. In the evening, a celebratory reception will be held at the national reserve of Sophia of Kyiv on behalf of Ukraine's President and the Universal Patriarch.
On 27 July, a liturgy will be celebrated beside the monument to St. Volodymyr by patriarch Bartholomew with the assistance of Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow, who is to arrive on 26 July, and the visiting heads of local Orthodox Churches. In this context, Bohutskyi especially stressed that the president invited the heads of 15 local Orthodox Churches of the world to participate in the events.
On his part, the head of the Organizing Committee on the preparation and celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus in Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, stressed that Ukraine bears a serious responsibility to hold this event in a fitting way. He especially emphasized that it is the first festival of world Orthodoxy to be celebrated in independent Ukraine. "It is important for us to stress that all the Churches to participate in the celebration of the anniversary on Kyivan soil are successors of the Holy baptism of Volodymyr," said Kravchuk. He also stressed that it is not about a one-time action, but a "wide complex of events and actions that have a long-term orientation."
"In this sense, it is important to see the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy from this perspective and highlight that the actions of Prince Volodymyr allowed Kyivan Rus to join with the people of Christian Europe," noted Kravchuk. "It is an urgent question for Ukraine today - we should be part of all European and Euro-Atlantic structures."
"Ukraine has a chance and opportunity to show to the whole world that it is a democratic country ensuring rights for each believer and granting each Church the right to work comfortably in Ukraine," stressed the head of the Organizing Committee.
