Concelebrating to the
Ecumenical Patriarch were Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia,
Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana
and All Albania, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine,
representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.
At the Liturgy that combined the Greek and Ukrainian traditions were praying
and taking the Holy Communion the hierarchs of the Ukrainian and of the Russian
Orthodox Churches, clergy of the Kyiv Diocese, Kyivans and guests of the
capital. Among
the high guests were president of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko (who soon left for
the Ivano-Frankivsk region to support the victims of natural disaster),
Secretary of the National Defence Council of Ukraine R.Bogatyriova, Minister of
Defense Yuriy Ekhanurov, Head of the Verkhovna Rada
of Ukraine A.Yatsenyuk.
The Liturgy was accompanied by the singing of two choirs: the choir of the Kyiv Theological
Academy and Seminary (choirmaster
hieromonk Roman (Pidlubnyak)) and the
Byzantine choir from Greece
(under the guidance of L.Angelopoulos).
Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox
Church Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine noted in his address to
all those present: "The split is an open and burning wound which cannot leave
us indifferent. We hope for the solution of this problem. Our loving hearts are
open for our brothers and we are ready to accept all of them".
His Holiness the
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, addressing the clergy and the
flock stated: "The Russian Orthodox Church has
created all conditions for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose Primate is His Beatitude
Metropolitan Volodymyr, to fulfill her pastoral care of the Ukrainian nation. I
am sure that this mission is fully compatible with preservation of the unity of
Russian Orthodoxy".
"The unity of Russian Orthodoxy
cannot prevent full-flood life of the sovereign countries - successors of the Kyivan Rus.
Our Church holds in respect their sovereignty and is interested in
strengthening and welfare of their nations. She is open to the closest interrelation
on the basis of the evangelic values with the authorities of every country
where her flock lives', underscored the Primate of the ROC.
In his sermon after the Liturgy Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I focused attention on the church unity and danger of splits. He noted
that "the unity in Christ of the local as well as of the ecclesial body
throughout the Œcumene cannot
tolerate divisions or conflicts". "Any division
of the ecclesial body offends its divine Head and renders the gifts of the Holy
Spirit inoperative for those who are the cause of the division and those who
are indifferent of it".
The Ecumenical Patriarch stated that he Mother Church of Constantinople suffers together with the dearest
daughter Church of Ukraine for the dangerous divisions of its ecclesial body
and cares, as if it were her own body,", and assured that he for the speedy and full restoration of the desired and God-loving unity.
On behalf of the Constantinople
Church His All Holiness addressed all the participants of the long-term church
confrontation in Ukraine with request "to consider each his own responsibilities
and-in the name of God!-to act in sincerity, doing whatever is necessary for
the peace and unity lest the evil, hardened in time, worsen with obvious repercussions
for the spiritual and societal coherence of the Ukrainian people."
Patriarch Bartholomew
emphasized that "Our joy is complete
because in this significant mystagogy rejoices and celebrates with us His
Beatitude the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, our beloved brother and
co-celebrant Alexei
II. On the one
had, his participation emphasizes the beneficial power that that baptism had
for all; on the other hand, his personal experience during difficult times
expresses the sacrificial struggles that are needed for the continuous
confirmation of the divine gifts that flow from baptism to all the faithful.".
Patriarch Bartholomew added that "his struggles in defence of baptism's divine gifts
under extremely hostile and adverse circumstances during the time of atheism's
prevalence are known to all and written indelibly in the memory of the martyred
Russian people.". " His struggles are for our holy brother a testimonial
account, and for us all an account of pride. Thus rightly we honor
in his venerable person the holy Church
of Russia because on
account of this memorial mystagogy a great joy permeates both heavens and earth
for the glory of the Triune Holy God and His holy Church. The Mother Church
knows and recognizes all this, and for this reason she bears witness in honor
of our beloved brother and co-celebrant Patriarch Alexei". Full text of the sermon of His All Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW I
During the Divine Liturgy At
the Hill of St. Vladimir of Kyiv >>> | |
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