UOC Primate Received President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko
On January 21, at the residence of the Primate of the UOC in the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra the meeting between His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr and President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko.
Victor Yushchenko called to the residence of His Beatitude to greet him on the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, the New Year and Epiphany.
In his turn, the Archpastor greeted the head of the state on all the feasts, concluded by the recently celebrated Baptism of Our Lord, and wished inspiration in further labors for the benefit of our nation.
In the course of conversation the sides exchanged festive presents.
Also in the course of the meeting the President of Ukraine conferred the order “For merits”, 3rd degree, on the Secretary for the Primate of the UOC Bishop Alexander of Pereyasalv-Khmelnytskyy. The decree mentions that the award was conferred for the significant personal contribution to the socio-economical and cultural development of Ukraine, high professionalism and many-year conscientious work. In particular, his activity in the field of church-state relations and information space in the recent years was marked. It refers to the creation of the orthodox mass-media network, preparation of the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, preparation of the visits of the Most Holy Patriarchs Alexy and Kirill to Ukraine, in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Attending the meeting also were Rector of the Kyiv Theological Schools Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil and council to the President of Ukraine Yuriy Bohutskyy.
