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Patriarch Kirill and hierarchs of Local Orthodox Churches head to Kiev for Rus Baptism festivities

The special train also carries the three-metre Cross of the St Andrew the Apostle

Photo ITAR-TASS/Artyom Korotaev

Photo ITAR-TASS/Artyom Korotaev

MOSCOW, July 26 (Itar-Tass) - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches have left for Kiev by special train to take part in the festivities devoted to the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.

“The event has a big significance. We mark the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. This is accompanied by very important actions,” the Russian patriarch told journalists at Kiev Railway Station.

The train carries the three-metre Cross of the St Andrew the Apostle, which was brought to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus from Greece.

Patriarch Kirill said: “It is important that the hierarchs of all Local Orthodox Churches have gathered to pray before the Cross of Saint Andrew the First-Called by remembering the great deed of Saint Prince Vladimir and thanking God for the non-easy and the treacherous path of the Russian Orthodox Church.”

The festivities devoted to the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus began in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The hierarchs of the Local Orthodox Churches contacted the leaders of the country. “They had very important conversations on the issues that the whole Orthodox world voices concern over,” the Russian patriarch said.

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