Press releases

MOSCOW, 5 May (BelTA) - The celebrations of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus will be held in the capitals of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said in an interview with Russian television, BelTA has learned.

"We assume that the celebrations will start in Moscow on 24 July, on the Day of Memory of St. Princess Olga, the grandmother of Prince Vladimir, who, as we can say, was the first Christian in the government and who largely contributed to the baptism of Rus,” His Holiness said.

According to Patriarch Kirill, a solemn liturgy will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and will be attended by the heads of the local Orthodox churches. Then the festivities will move to Kiev. A solemn liturgy will be held on St. Vladimir’s Hill, near the monument to Prince Vladimir, and will be followed by a gala concert in Khreshchatik.

The celebrations will continue in Minsk, where the service will be held in the open air. A big procession is expected to be held in the Belarusian capital afterwards.

Patriarch Kirill said it is important for Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians to remember about the Baptism of Rus that shaped the course of history of the Slavic peoples.