Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew greeted Ukrainians on the 1031st anniversary of the baptism of Rus -Ukraine. Patriarch Bartholomew's message to the Ukrainian people was read by the head of the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, who attended the Liturgy on the Day of the baptism of Russia, UKRINFORM reports.
“From the Church Of Constantinople, which gave birth to and revived the entire Ukrainian people and its quintessence — the Church consciousness -- being a few meters from the place where the Holy Princess Olha was baptized, it is with extraordinary honor and joy that we convey Patriarchal blessings and our wishes to all God's people and greet with a holy kiss His Beatitude Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine, the good pastor of the Church of Ukraine, and all the holy bishops without exception who have gathered here,” - Metropolitan of France read out Patriarch Bartholomew's greetings.
The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine, in turn, thanked Patriarch Bartholomew I and the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople for his words of greeting and blessing and conveyed greetings to the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished him good health.
On July 27-28, Ukraine marks the 1031 anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine.