His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the day marking the millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles
The 27th of July 2015, commemoration day of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, became the culmination of church-state celebrations on the occasion of the millennium of the demise of the Baptizer of Russia.
That day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Concelebrating with His Holiness were hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well heads and ordained members of the delegations of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, the Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, the Orthodox Church of Greece, the Albanian Orthodox Church, the Polish Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and the Orthodox Church in America.
To mark the celebrations, an icon of the Holy Grand Prince Vladimir and a shrine with a particle of his relics were brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
During the Liturgy, the choir sang the antiphons that were written in 1988 to mark the Millennium of the Baptism of Russia.
After the Litany of Fervent Supplication, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said a prayer for peace in Ukraine.
After the Gospel reading, the Primate of the Russian Church addressed the worshippers with a homily.
Before the Communion, Bishop Sergy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate, read out His Holiness Patriarch Kirill’s message on the occasion of the millennium of the demise of the Holy Grand Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
After the Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said a thanksgiving to the Holy Prince Vladimir and blessed holy banners to be delivered to all dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.
“Many and Good Years” was sung to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, President Vladimir Putin on his Name Day, as well as to “metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, our God-protected country, all those in authority, the army and the people,” and to all Orthodox Christians.
Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna greeted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, saying in particular: “Your Holiness, you have been bound up with the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, since the time of your baptism. Having become the Primate of our land, you continue his feat. May the Lord, through your Primatial labours and prayers, grant peace to our country and prosperity to our people, and may He preserve you in peace and wellbeing for many and good years!”
Mr. Alexander Beglov, Russian President’s Envoy to the Central Federal District, read out the message of greeting from the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin.
Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, representative of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, also greeted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, saying in particular:
“Today we, representatives of the Local Churches, have assembled in this magnificent cathedral with your blessing in order to commemorate the enlightener of the Russian people, Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the Apostles.
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate and His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with whom you have been bound up by many years of close friendship, rejoice at seeing how successful spiritual endeavours of the Russian people are. It is gratifying for Patriarch Bartholomew to know that thanks to the Divine Providence you have been elevated to a lofty patriarchal throne and are leading these chosen people to salvation.”
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church thanked everyone for the words of greeting, saying in particular:
“I would like to thank Metropolitan Apostolos, envoy of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Your words fill us with special joy. We do not forget that the light of the Orthodox truth came to us from the shores of Bosporus, from Constantinople. In spite of all difficult historical circumstances, this spiritual bond has never been broken. I believe that the ties existing between us will continue to strengthen the whole universal Orthodoxy.
“I am also grateful to the representatives of all Local Orthodox Churches. Please convey my gratitude and assurances of my esteem to the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches, who sent you here. Celebrating with us today were all saints of the Universal Orthodox Church, because here, close to us, the earthly Church, is the Heavenly Church, the Church in glory, which is today and in eternity stands before God.”
“May the Lord protect His creation; may He protect the Orthodox Church, present in many countries; may He protect the Russian land and our passion-bearing Church which has been preserving faith in her people for a thousand years. May the Lord, by the prayers of the Holy Grand Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, bless us, following our historical path. Amen.”
Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
DECR Communication Service
Photo by Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia