Kiev, July 29, 2024
Photo: news.church.ua
The canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church festively celebrated the feast of St. Vladimir the Great and the Baptism of Rus’ over the weekend.
The feast began with the All-Night Vigil in the Church of St. Agapit in the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra on Saturday night, led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. The Ukrainian primate was joined by several other hierarchs and clerics, reports the Information-Education Department of the UOC.
The Divine Liturgy for the feast was also celebrated in the Church of St. Agapit, one of the only Lavra churches still open to the canonical UOC amidst the state’s ongoing campaign of Church persecution.
Met. Onuphry was again joined by a number of hierarchs and clerics. Following the Gospel reading, His Beatitude addressed the faithful with a homily on the core of the Christian faith, which St. Vladimir accepted.
“May the Lord help us to preserve the holy faith that Prince St. Vladimir passed on to us. Those who preserve the faith of Prince Vladimir are his spiritual children. Only those who live as the prince did after his Baptism can be his children,” noted the Metropolitan.
He recalled that St. Vladimir was once cruel, but when he accepted Baptism, he became merciful, forgave and helped orphans, widows, the elderly, the sick, and all people in need.
Photo: news.church.ua
“Such changes occurred in Prince Vladimir thanks to the holy Orthodox faith. And through his prayers, may the Lord help us to lead our lives on earth worthily, so that we may be worthy to become heirs of eternal life in Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Met. Onuphry wished.
Following the Liturgy, prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and mercy for the poor.
Congratulating everyone with the feast, Met. Onuphry encouraged them to walk to narrow and thorny path that leads to eternal life.
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