Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev celebrates Liturgy at the Monument of Friendship on the border of Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia

On 29 June 2013, the festival marking the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia opened at the crossing place of the Russian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian borders.

This year the Ukrainian side acts as an organizer of this international forum. Before the festival, His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monument of Friendship.

Among those concelebrating with His Beatitude were Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, and archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, DECR Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations.

After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir addressed all those present with a homily, emphasizing the importance of the unity of the three brotherly nations, based on the Orthodox faith, web-site of the Kiev metropolia reports.