The delegation arrived in Kyiv to participate in the celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Christianization of the Kievan Rus

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has met a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople that arrived in Ukraine to participate in a celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Christianization of the Kievan Rus as the press service of the president reported.

Poroshenko expressed the gratitude to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for “constant care of the Mother Church about Ukrainian believers that have difficult times due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine and illegal annexation of Crimea.”

Also, Ukrainian president thanked the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate that they arrive to celebrate so special event for the Ukrainians.

“I am so thankful for this pray. So thankful for such support and that we will celebrate this important anniversary together tomorrow,” he said.

In his turn, Metropolitan Emmanuel Gaulish, the representative of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I emphasized that came to Ukraine on behalf of the Patriarch. He also emphasized that the situation in Ukraine is in the spotlight of Bartholomew I.

As we reported Ukraine celebrated the Christianization of Kievan Rus on July 24. The traffic will be restricted on July 24, 27 and 28 because of the events timed to the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus-Ukraine.

On July 27, eight holy relics reached Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra - the main shrine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). The holy relics will be available for the worshippers at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on July 27 and 28, around the clock. They will also be seen publicly during the procession in Kyiv, which is slated for Friday. The worshippers will walk across the downtown city.

Later it was reported that at least 250,000 people took part in the Cross Procession in Kyiv downtown on Friday, July 27.

Earlier Poroshenko held the meeting with the primates of the Orthodox churches and accepted the appeal to Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch on the provision of the tome on the autocephaly for the Ukrainian church with the signs of all bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.