UOC Primate congratulates the faithful on Day of Christianization of Rus’
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Primate of the UOC. Photo: a video screenshot from the "1 Kozak" YouTube channel
On July 27, 2020, the Primate of the UOC, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, greeted the flock on the Day of the Christianization of Rus’. His congratulatory address was published by the "1 Kozak" channel.
“The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called came to our lands with a sermon about Christ Crucified and Risen. After the Apostle Andrew sowed the seeds of faith in our land, a certain time passed before they gave the first shoots,” said His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
The Archpastor reminded the believers of what those first shoots were like. Saints Equal to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius invented the Slavic alphabet and translated the Holy Scriptures and liturgical books into the Slavic language, Princes Askold and Dir baptized many Rus’ people and were baptized themselves, and later Saint Princess Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, was baptized herself and christened a lot of people, as well as built churches.
The Primate also recalled that Rus’, which was baptized by St. Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, included the territories of modern Belarus, Russia, as well as part of Poland and other states.
“May the Lord grant each of us strength, courage, determination to be like St. Prince Vladimir, who before his christianization was a cruel, harsh, licentious prince, and when he was baptized, he became ‘the Red Sun’,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry called on the faithful.
He noted that if we keep the faith, we ourselves will become better – we will love, pity, respect each other, and be kind. If we want to be the children of St. Prince Vladimir who christened Rus’, we must take him as a model, the Primate explained.
“If we want to be the children of St. Prince Vladimir, we must live as Saint Prince Vladimir lived. And he lived by the faith that he accepted with all his heart, with all his soul. May God bless and have mercy on all of us with the prayers of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, our enlightener and christianizer,” the Archpastor wished the believers.
As reported earlier, all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church will toll the bells on the Day of the Christianization of Rus’.
Read also
Constantinople hierarch: UOJ engages in propaganda journalism in defense of UOC
Archbishop Elpidophoros accuses the Union of Orthodox Journalists of "Russian propaganda" without providing a single fact.
Phanar’s Archdiocese in U.S. tried to derail meetings held in defense of UOC
A leaked letter from Archbishop Elpidophoros to Patriarch Bartholomew has revealed that while Orthodox Christians were seeking protection for the UOC in Washington, the Phanar was coordinating a campaign to sabotage their meetings with American politicians.
EXCLUSIVE: Abp Elpidophoros’ letter to Pat Bartholomew on defending UOC in US
Archbishop Elpidophoros reports to Patriarch Bartholomew on his efforts to derail actions by Orthodox clergy and faithful in the United States in defense of the UOC.
Zelensky awards chief rabbi "for the defense of the country"
At the celebration of Moshe Asman’s anniversary, representatives of the Presidential Office and the Territorial Defense Forces presented the rabbi with state awards and read out a message from Zelensky.
Gates foundation allocates $1 billion to promote abortion in Africa and Asia
Bill Gates and other private donors will direct funds to organizations seeking to legalize abortion and change laws in countries with traditional values.
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.