UOC's Primate officiates celebrations on the Day of the Baptism of Rus’

Divine service on the Day of the Baptism of Rus’ at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: UOC

On July 28, 2025, the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Volodymyr and the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus’, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Agapitus at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, according to the monastery’s press service.

Concelebrating with His Beatitude were: Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the UOC; Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, Chancellor of the UOC Information and Education Department; as well as Metropolitans Joasaph of Vasylkiv, Mykolai of Kropyvnytskyi and Novomyrhorod, and Tykhon of Romny and Buryn; Archbishops Dionysiy of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Spyridon of Vyshneve; Bishops Lavr of Irpin, Mark of Borodianka, Afanasiy of Kamin-Kashyrsk, Kyrylo of Byshiv, Feodosiy of Ladanka, Arkadiy of Hostomel, Serafym of Novovorontsivka; and clergy and guests of the Lavra in holy orders, led by the Lavra’s spiritual father, Archimandrite Anthony.

After the Gospel reading, Metropolitan Onuphry recalled the history of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus’ by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince, whom the people called Volodymyr the Bright Sun (Krasne Solnyshko) for the spiritual beauty of his soul, revealed through the good deeds he performed after turning to the Orthodox faith.

“As his spiritual children and kin by blood, we must guard and preserve, and live according to the faith we received from the Apostle Andrew the First-Called through Prince Volodymyr. And then we shall become heirs of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” the Primate exhorted.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the clergy and faithful offered prayers to Saint Prince Volodymyr.

On the eve of the feast, His Beatitude also led the All-Night Vigil in the same church.

As previously reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude had earlier called on the faithful to do good in secret, giving all glory to God.

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