Zelensky congratulates Ukraine on Baptism of Rus Day, showing the Vatican

Mosaic of Prince Volodymyr in the Vatican. Photo: Zelensky’s channel

On the Day of the Baptism of Rus and Statehood Day – moved to the new calendar date – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation with congratulations.

Speaking against the backdrop of Volodymyrska Hill and the monument to Saint Prince Volodymyr, Zelensky declared that “this day is about connection, about all the stages of our state-building, and about what unites dozens of generations.”

“A bridge through time that stands on three unshakable pillars: Ukrainians were here, Ukrainians are here, Ukrainians will be here. And life always triumphs on this land. Our values and our character prevail,” Zelensky assured.

Notably, these words of Zelensky were accompanied by video footage showing various churches: the St. Michael’s Cathedral of the OCU, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, the Church of the Savior at Berestove, the Vydubychi Monastery of the OCU, St. Michael’s Church in Oster, and the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernihiv. The final shot in this sequence showed St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where above one of the altars there is a mosaic of Saint Prince Volodymyr.

It is worth noting that in 2023 Zelensky shifted Statehood Day by 13 days following the move of the OCU and the UGCC to the Revised Julian Calendar, which also shifted the date of the Baptism of Rus. It is now celebrated not on July 28, but on July 15.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zelensky had invited Pope Francis to Kyiv and had lobbied for the canonization of Sheptytsky.

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