Department for External Church Relations
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On commemoration day of Great Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles, Primate of Russian Orthodox Church celebrated liturgy at Church of Christ the Saviour
On 28 July 2020, the commemoration day of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, the church-state celebration day of the Baptism of Russia, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
The Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, which took place on June 24-20, 2008, in Moscow, resolved that on the commemoration day of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal to the Apostles observed on July 15/28, ‘the liturgy be celebrated according to the great feast statute, doing honour to the baptiser of Russia’. In Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia, the day of the Holy Prince Vladimir was included in the list of state memorial dates marked by public celebrations. Festivities are held in all the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Upon his arrival at the Church of Christ the Saviour, Patriarch Kirill venerated the honourable relics of St. Philaret the Metropolitan of Moscow.
During the liturgy, His Holiness was assisted by a great number of bishops and priests, abbots and church officials in holy orders who serve in Moscow and the Moscow Region.
Among his concelebrants were also representatives of Local Orthodox Churches including the Orthodox Church of Antioch, the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.
Among the worshippers were State Duma deputies, the Moscow Mayor Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. There were also officials of the Russian Orthodox Church synodal departments, abbesses and nuns from convents in Moscow and monks from patriarchal monasteries.
The liturgy was broadcast live by Soyuz and Spas TV channels.
Along with hymns and prayers of the day, a petition was lifted up by Patriarch Kirill for the deliverance from the spread of the harmful coronavirus infection.
After the dismissal, the shrine with a part of the relics of the Holy Great Prince Vladimir was taken out from the sanctuary and placed at the central lectern. Patriarch Kirill said a special prayer to the Baptizer of Russia and prayers were lifted up for Russian President Vladimir Putin who celebrates his name day on this date.
The liturgy concluded with the singing of Many Years to His Holiness Kirill and to the name-day celebrant President Vladimir Putin.
After that Patriarch Kirill addressed himself to the congregation with a primatial homily and presented church awards to several bishops and abbesses in recognition of their diligent work for the good of the Church.
Patriarchal Press Service/
DECR Communication Service
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