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The 100th publication of the monthly “Bulletin of the Press Service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church” was celebrated in a series of commemorative events at the Dormition Laura of the Caves in Kiev with the blessing of His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

An awarding ceremony took place in the Synodal Hall at the residence of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Awarded were the press service staff and people who contributed to its work. Taking part in the ceremony were clergymen, editors, diplomats, church and secular journalists of Ukraine and Russia.

The head of the press service V. Anisimov made a brief report of its activities. He thanked His Beatitude the Metropolitan for his paternal care for Orthodox journalists and those present for cooperation and help in bringing to life common information and publication projects.

Igor Lubchenko, chairman of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), mentioned in his address an enhanced role of church mass media in the country’s information area and said, “The Ukrainian journalists, as well as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, have always been with their people. At present the Church and the journalists try, by common efforts, to present truthful information to society,” he said.

He emphasized special part that His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, a NUJU member with forty years length of service as an editor, plays in the professional formation of Orthodox information resources. The NUJU chairman awarded His Beatitude the “Gold Medal of Ukrainian Journalism” for his contribution to the revival of church press in Ukraine. Press service staff received NUJU honourary diplomas.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir highly appreciated the long-term work of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church press service and presented church awards to the jubilee celebration participants. Among the winners are press service staff, its assistants and benefactors; the DECR deputy chairman archpriest Nikolay Balashov, who was awarded the Order of St. Dimitry Metropolitan of Rostov, and abbot of the Moscow Sretensky stauropegic monastery archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), who was awarded the Order of St. Nestor the Chronicler.

The winners thanked His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir for his attention to their work and noted the importance of the Ukrainian and Russian church mass media cooperation in the consolidation of informational area of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Archbishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky, secretary of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, also took part in the meeting.

That same day the press service staff and the guests visited the Near Caves where they venerated the holy relics of St. Nestor the Chronicler.