A traditional thanksgiving prayer service was celebrated on St Volodymyr’s Hill, near the monument to the holy prince Volodymyr

On December 23 at St Volodymyr’s Hill, near the Monument to the Holy Prince Volodymyr the thanksgiving prayer service was celebrated. This service is traditionally performed at the end of each year.

With the blessing of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, headed by its oldest permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church Metropolitan Agathangel of Odessa and Izmail, in concelebration of the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the clergy of the Diocese of Kyiv.

Praying together with the clergymen were President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn, Kyiv Region Governor Anatoly Prysyazhnyuk, Kyiv Mayor Oleksandr Popov, government members, MPs and other dignitaries.

At the worship the prayers to the Lord for the Ukrainian state and its people, and the recovery of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr were lifted up.

After the prayer service Metropolitan Agathangel noted that the bishops and clergy pray today especially for the health of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Volodymyr so that God “raised him from the bed of ilness disease” for the further salvific ministry of the Church and people of Ukraine.

Finally, the hierarchy and top state officials to venerated the icon of the Baptist of Rus – the Holy Prince Volodymyr and his honorable relics.

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