Russian TV News Report on Massive Celebrations of 1030th Anniversary of Christianity in Russia

In this video, Russian TV interviews Patriarch Kyrill about the celebrations and how they will proceed despite the obstacles they face.

Transcript follows.

Transcript:

A celebration commemorating of Rus' Christianization will be held on the Russian Orthodox Church's canonical territory, according to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill. He also mentioned that the event that had occurred 1,030 years ago is the foundation of a deep tradition that has been defining the cultural development of all the nations connected by Vladimir's baptism.

Dmitry Kaistro reports on the issue.

The traditional change ringing will be performed in all Orthodox churches at noon on Saturday. They're preparing the Cathedral Square in the heart of the country's capital for the celebration. The main celebration of the 1,030th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus' will take place here, among the golden domes and ancient cathedral walls. Patriarch Kirill will perform the Divine Liturgy out in the open.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill: “For us, as people of faith and the church, this event is about Christ's light coming to Earth. The evangelical epistle has touched the hearts and minds of our people. It has transformed the souls of our ancestors and started the most profound spiritual tradition. May God save our Fatherland, all of the historical Rus', and all our brother nations that emerged from the baptismal font of Kiev. We'll have a festive celebration on this day in Moscow, by God's Mercy. Ceremonial services will be held on this day, including Kiev, the mother of all cities, where the Christianization took place.”

The capital awaits many local church members on this holiday. The historic spiritual continuum of the Russian Orthodox Church goes beyond all political borders. Thus, this celebration will be epic, taking place on the Russian Orthodox Church's canonical territory in the churches of many nations that have descended from the historical Rus', including Ukraine.

This is what the processions looked like in Ukraine in recent years. In 2016, 80,000 people from all over the country had walked through Kiev. No matter what people say, many Ukrainians remember the words that were said on Maidan Square on the 1,020th anniversary of the Christianization.

Patriarch Kirill: “Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus all make up the Holy Rus'.”

The upcoming holiday is a demonstration of spiritual unity among Eastern Orthodox believers; it expands beyond Russia and Ukraine. They're preparing for the celebration in Donbass, Belarus, Transnistria, and Moldavia.

However, Ukrainian authorities and special services are trying to stop the believers from going to Kiev for the procession. Transportation companies refuse to rent out buses for the required date. This is happening in Rivne, Kherson, Cherkasy, and Sumy. The Odessa episcopacy has sent some alarming messages. Local authorities won't allow the parishioners to participate in the event there.

Archbishop Kliment, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Eparchy: “The followers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will arrive in Kiev. No obstacles have ever stopped our parishioners from receiving spiritual support and participating in praying for peace and the blessing of our Motherland and our people.”

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A public service will be held at Kiev's Saint Vladimir Hill on Friday, July 27th. Over 100,000 members of the clergy along with parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are expected to participate in the procession after the service.