Department for External Church Relations
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Archbishop Michael of Prague: Baptism of Russia is the most important event in history of Russian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian nations
“Allow me as member of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Land and Slovakia to congratulate you on behalf of the Plenitude of our Church on the anniversary of the joyful and the most important event in the history of the Russian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian nations - the Baptism of Rus’”, said Archbishop Michael of Prague addressing His Beatitude Onufriy, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine after the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated on the 28th of July 2021, at the cathedral square of the Kiev-Pechersk Laura of the Dormition.
“Today we solemnly mark the commemoration day of the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, who baptized Rus’ 1033 years ago and led his people to the faith in true God”, he emphasized, “In the history of our fraternal nations there are a strikingly great number of parallels. Our St. Prince Rostislav Equal-to-the-Apostles invited holy brothers Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia. The enlighteners of the Slavs translated the liturgy and Holy Scriptures into the language understandable to all Slavs. Centuries later, thanks to St. Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostle the works of the holy brothers and their disciples brought forth their fruits in Rus’. The seeds cultivated in Great Moravia became a mighty tree in Rus’, and the crown of this tree spreads above the Slavic peoples to this day. The adoption of the faith of Christ has become for our people not only a spiritual blessing but also the beginning of enlightenment and development of statehood and magnificence”.
Noting that today the Lord sends trials to the Ukrainian people and the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Michael said, “But in these trials the true faith of Christians is tempered and strengthened”.
The hierarch also mentioned that in the churches of the Orthodox Diocese of Prague, a prayer is always lifted up for the peace and unity of the Church in Ukraine and for strengthening mutual understanding between people.
Addressing His Beatitude Onufriy, Archbishop Michael noted, “Your Beatitude, dear Metropolitan, tirelessly and from my heart I pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that He may preserve, protect and strengthen the holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church governed by Your Beatitude lawfully and in accordance with canons. May the All-Good Lord give us power, patience and wisdom and protect the Orthodox Ukrainian people and His Holy Church. Undoubtedly, the Holy Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles intercedes for her before God. We believe that the day will come when no evil will or evil power will breach the peace and quiet of our life because God and His entire heavenly host are with us!”
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