On the night of July 27–28 in the enormous “New Chersonese” complex in Sebastopol, Crimea, an All Night Vigil with Divine Liturgy was served to honor St. Vladimir and the Baptism of Russia.
It was in Chersonese, the ancient Greek city, where St. Vladimir received holy Baptism into the Orthodox Christian faith, and had all his soldiers baptized as well.
The feast began with Vigil in the St. Vladimir Chersonese Cathedral, and continued with a cross procession and night Liturgy in the open-air Church of the Holy Trinity. After the end of the services, everyone present was treated to a festal meal in the “Byzantine Quarter”. All in all, over 4000 people were served!
“New Chersonese” itself celebrated its first anniversary on that day. The New Chersonese museum-church complex spans about twenty-four hectares, featuring 140,000 square meters of constructed museum and cultural facilities.
“It is wonderful to see so many Orthodox Christians from all over, assembled here tonight to celebrate our Godfather, St. Vladimir, and the Baptism of Russia…” exclaimed His Eminence Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and All Crimea, who presided over the services and solemnities.
