In 2008 the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian nation will celebrate
the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus by the Holy
Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. Adopting Christianity by Kyivan Rus
was the event of greatest significance not for the Church only, but for the
Ukrainian state as well. The Baptism led to creation of the ancient Russian written
language and literature, advancement of education in our land, development of visual art and
architecture. Christianity advanced consolidation of the ancient Russian
society, development of the native legislation, had an influence upon the
economic life, brought high ideals of the Christian morals to Rus. Due to the Baptism Kyivan Rus entered the
family of the Christian states of the Europe
and Kyiv became one of the leading Christian European
capitals.
To mark deservedly the role of the Holy Prince Vladimir
by whose labours our motherland was baptized, the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church more than once turned to various governmental
departments with request to grant the commemoration day of the Holy Prince
Vladimir (July 28) the status of the state holiday - the Day of Baptism of
Kyivan Rus. First this idea was
expressed by the representatives of our church 15 years ago. Since then the initiative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was discussed
at many of the church
and social forums and gained wide public support.
But unfortunately we experience resistance to this idea on the part of some
state institutions. In particular, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance
in its letter to the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 10.06.2008
(№ 01/514-2) expresses opinion that the new holiday "will not become a holiday
of national reconciliation", "will bring about discord in the society" and
"offend the religious feelings of other confessions".
We'd like to note that the arguments of the kind are artificial and groundless
since none of religious communities in Ukraine expressed criticism of the
idea of celebration of the commemoration day of the Holy
Prince Vladimir at the state
level. Moreover, this suggestion of our Church was supported by the Christian
confessions in Ukraine
and by the political and state leaders.
Therefore, on the eve of celebration of the great anniversary of 1020 years of
the Baptism of Rus the Ukrainian Orthodox Church addresses you once again with
request to grant the commemoration day of the Holy Prince Vladimir the status
of the state holiday - the Day of Baptism of Kyivan Rus. We are sure that worthy
commemoration of the memory of the Holy Baptiser of Rus will foster consolidation of the
Ukrainian society, the processes of spiritual and national revival.
† Volodymyr, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine
Members of the Holy synod of the UOC:
† Nycodym, Metropolitan of Kharkiv and Bogodukhiv
† Agathangel, Metropolitan
of Odessa and
Izmayil
†Ioannikiy, Metropolitan of
Luhansk and Alchevsk
† Onuphriy, Metropolitan of
Chernivtsi and Bukovyna
† Іriney, Metropolitan
of Dnipropetrovsk and Pavlohrad
† Mark, Archbishop of Khust and
Vynohradiv
† Feodor, Archbishop of Kamyanets-Podilsk
and Gorodok
† Panteleimon, Bishop of Oleksandriya and Svitlovodsk
† Mytrofan, Archbishop of Bila Tserkva
and Boguslav,
Executive Administrator of the UOC | | |
