The seventh day of the Patriarch’s visit began with the Divine Liturgy at St. Vladimir’s Church in Chersonese (Sebastopol)

This is the first Patriarch’s visit to Crimea, to the place where the Holy and Equal-to-the-apostles Prince Vladimir was baptized.

Now in the square in front of St. Vladimir’s Cathedral the Divine Liturgy is being conducted by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Concelebrating with him is His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir and numerous diocesan clergy.

Thousands of pilgrims and residents of the city also came to pray with the patriarch this Sunday.

In his sermon His Holiness Patriarch Kirill drew a parallel between the actions of St. Prophet Elias, commemorated today and the Holy and Equal-to-the Apostles Prince Vladimir, in whose place of baptism the festive liturgical service is celebrated today. “They fought with the paganism, with divisions”, noted the First Hierarchs. “It is also relevant today, in the times when the false values confused people.”

His Holiness called everyone to pray that “the Lord gave power to the nation to preserve spiritual unity, keep the Orthodox faith, spiritual treasures and values”.

After the Divine Liturgy Metropolitan Lazarus of Crimea and Simferopol addressed the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, who noted that Patriarch Kirill was the first from the synaxis of patriarchs who visited the lands of Crimea. “Your word is understandable and salutary for the souls of modern people”, said His Eminence. Also Metropolitan mentioned that it was with joy that he perceived himself as patriarch’s co-worker and wished him physical and spiritual strength to continue fulfillment of the godly mission. Chair of the City Council of Sebastopol S.V.Kunitsyn also greeted the Patriarch and thanked him for the visit.

The Primate of the Russia Orthodox Church addressed the clergymen and faithful with words of joy, since the Divine Liturgy gathered the clergymen from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Moldova in the place of baptismal font of the Holy Prince Vladimir.
“This conciliar Liturgy symbolized the spiritual unity of the Russian Orthodox Church”, said the Patriarch. His Holiness expressed special gratitude to His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir for his efforts of keeping the church unity.
The First Hierarch also greeted the representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian Black Sea Fleets, defending historical territory of the Holy Rus.

“Our faith is the only spiritual band, uniting people besides the political frontiers and nationalities”, emphasized the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill gifted the Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign to the Cathedral. As a keepsake of joint liturgical service and for the work on building and restoration of the diocesan churches he bestowed panagia on Metropolitan Lazarus.

The Patriarch also blessed all the faithful with the icons of the Holy equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir as a souvenir of the origins of the faith and actuality of the ideals of Orthodoxy.

After the Divine Liturgy the Patriarch blessed the foundation stone of the Religious Educational Center of Sebastopol.

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