Patriarch Kirill States That Rus Baptism Celebration Will Begin in Moscow

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, stated that the international events for the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus would begin in Moscow.

“We suppose that the events will begin in Moscow on July 24, on the day of Holy Righteous Princess Olha, the grandmother of Prince Volodymyr, who can be called the first Christian ruler who prepared the Baptism of Rus in many ways,” said the patriarch in an interview to TV channels Russia-1 and Russia-24 broadcasted last Sunday.

According to him, the celebratory service will be conducted in the Church of Christ the Savior and that the heads of the local Orthodox Churches are invited. A popular festival on the occasion is also planned for that day.

Then, the events will move to Kyiv where a celebratory service is to be held on St. Volodymtr’s Hill.

“We hope that the heads of the churches will be present. The Ukrainian leadership came forward with an initiative to invite to this event, the prayer service on St. Volodymyr’s Hill, the heads of the Orthodox Churches and heads of states where most of the people belong to the Orthodox Church,” said Patriarch Kirill.