The 1025th anniversary of the Christianization of Rus

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Festive arrangements devoted to the 1025th anniversary of Christianization of Rus’ will take place this week. Numerous events lasting from the 24th to 29th of July in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus will confirm the unity of modern Orthodoxy. Moreover, it will be a message from world Orthodoxy to states and young people. This year the festive events will be attended by heads and representatives of all regional Orthodox churches. The Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioquia, Jerusalem, Georgia, Serbia, and Bulgaria have confirmed their participation, as well as the heads of the Cypriot, Polish, and American Churches. The official representatives of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Roman, Greek, Alban Churches and the Church of the Czech Territories and Slovakia are expected.

According to Deacon Alexander Volkov, “celebrations of Christianization of Rus’ are deeply supported by society and the state in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Numerous events devoted to these dates in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus confirm this. Of course it is significant that the authorities of the three countries pay close attention to it. It is important that the celebration is joint, and the central event will be solemn divine services in Moscow, Kiev, and Minsk.”

The head of the press-service of the Patriarch of Moscow and all-Russia said that “for the church the divine service is the most significant, as well as the fact that representatives of all regional Orthodox churches will come. When we speak about an anniversary, there is always a question – why? Why should we arrange festivals? Why should we involve administrative resources to hold them? We know that people are often not enthusiastic about anniversaries, they treat them ironically: “One more anniversary! One more odd date!” However, for the church, it is an opportunity to pray together and to confirm the unity of Orthodoxy. We have no such an opportunity every year or in every country – to gather the heads of the Orthodox churches and pray. Moreover, they will pray together in such important cities for the whole world as Moscow, Kiev, and Minsk. It is a unique event that the heads and representatives of Orthodox churches think it is important to be present at these events. Of course, for us it has special importance because the joint prayer, the joint divine service is the most significant component of the arrangements.”