Reps of Local Churches tell about their impressions of Cross Procession

On July 27, after the religious procession in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, a briefing was held with the participation of representatives of the Local Churches who had arrived in Kiev for the celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, according to the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The hierarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Metropolitan Demetrius of Irinupol, gave the blessing of the Patriarch of Alexandria and thanked the Ukrainians for the fact that he had visited Ukraine for the first time and felt himself at home.

"We glorify the Most Holy God because, thanks to His love for us and thanks to the invitation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, we are here in the country of the saints, in a blessed country, that we have an opportunity to pray together with you for the unity of the Church, for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,” said His Eminence.

The representative of the Cyprus Orthodox Church, Bishop Nectarius of Arsinoe, noted that he was struck by the number of the procession walkers. "Our particular joy is also linked to the fact that representatives of almost all the Local Churches are present at these celebrations," said Bishop Nectarius. "Thus we testify to our support of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, the whole Ukrainian Orthodox Church, we are witnessing the unity between us."

The hierarch of the Georgian Church, Metropolitan Gerasimus of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, conveyed the greetings of Patriarch Ilia II.

"We feel Divine grace," said the Metropolitan. “Representatives of the Local Churches gathered here and this is the triumph of Orthodoxy. Our prayer to the Lord God, first of all, is about peace in Ukraine, about peace in the Ukrainian Church."

Also, congratulations were given by representatives of other Local Churches who had come to the celebrations in Kiev.

Earlier, Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich said that delegations of 12 Local Churches had arrived at celebrations on the occasion of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.

On July 27, a moleben and a Cross procession on the occasion of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus took place in Kiev. Despite the obstructions on the part of the authorities, thousands of believers came to take part in the prayer service on the Vladimir hill and in the Cross procession.