His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Holiness Patriarch Iliya, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir celebrate prayer service at the monument to the Baptizer of Russia

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the Ukrainian Prime Minister N. Azarov at the Dormition Laura of the Caves in Kiev in the morning of July 27, 2011. After the meeting, Patriarch Kirill proceeded to Vladimir’s Hill.

Many people, who gathered at the monument to the Baptizer of Russia, met His Holiness with exclamation “Our Patriarch Kirill!”

On the eve of the commemoration day of Grand Prince Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles (+1015) and the Day of the Baptism of Russia also celebrated on July 28, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Iliya II of All Georgia, and His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine celebrated a prayer service at the monument.

Taking part in the service were all members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the assembly of hierarchs from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Georgia as well as priests from these countries.

Representatives of the Ukrainian state authorities, including the President’s counsellor A. German, attended the service, after which Metropolitan Vladimir and Patriarch Kirill delivered welcoming speeches.

In conclusion of the celebration that opens festivities dedicated to the Day of the Baptism of Russia, representatives of clergy laid flowers at the monument to St. Vladimir on behalf of the three Primates, press office of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia reports.