Patriarch Filaret has called upon representatives
of different faiths to take part in celebrations to consolidate Ukraine
Ukraine on July 28 celebrates
Christianization or Baptism Day of Kyivan Rus, which took place in the 10th
century under Kyiv's Prince Volodymyr the Great.
Volodymyr was an outstanding statesman
and politician who ruled Kyivan Rus from the year 980 to 1015.
Kyiv was the first city in ancient Rus
to adopt Christianity.
According to the Primary Chronicle,
which tells th history of Kyivan Rus from about 850 to 1110, Volodymyr the
Great was himself baptized in Chersonesus and proceeded to baptize his family
and people in Kyiv back in 988.
In the next centuries Christianity
spread across all Rus to become its core religion.
Ukraine has been marking this day as a
public holiday since July 25, 2008. However, for the last two years the holiday
has special meaning due to Russia's aggression in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has
called upon all the faithful to pray for those warriors who defended and
continue to defend Ukraine.
"Let the patron
saint of our Rus-Ukraine, Volodymyr the Great, join us in prayers to banish the
intruders. Rising a cross in one hand, he is keeping hold on a sword in another
hand – to defend Ukraine," the president said.
Head
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Patriarch Filaret urged everyone who supports Ukraine and
its independence to join thousands in the traditional religious procession
organized by the Kyivan Patriarchate.
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