Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in 2009: 'Kyiv is our common Jerusalem'
27 July 2009
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' urged to preserve the spiritual unity of the peoples of Russia and Ukraine.
"If you want, Kyiv is our common Jerusalem, the Orthodox faith came from here," the patriarch said today after a prayer service to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir on Volodymyr's Hill.
"Praying here, at the monument erected to the holy prince on the banks of our common baptismal font, we testify that the testament of our spiritual progenitor lives and triumphs in history, that we, the heirs of Vladimir's baptism, living in different states, sacredly preserve the spiritual unity commanded by him ", the patriarch said.
Kirill: Kyiv is our common Jerusalem
In this unity, he noted, "our strength, the basis of our steadfastness in the face of all the temptations and divisions of the world." Cyril also urged to be "eternally grateful" to the Baptist of Rus' "for the fateful choice he made: the adoption of the holy Orthodox faith, which has become an invaluable treasure of the people."
He also noted that the Commemoration Day of St. Vladimir coming tomorrow is "a great feast of the Russian Orthodox Church, common to all the peoples it nourishes." “And how many of these temptations, how many of these divisions have been over the thousand-year history of our Church! But by the grace of God, by the prayers of our holy Baptist, we have always emerged victorious from these temptations and divisions with humility and firmness of spirit,” the patriarch said.
He urged us to pray together "for the good and prosperity of Ukraine, for the peace and harmony of its citizens, for the friendship and brotherhood of kindred peoples who emerged from the Dnieper font, for our indissoluble spiritual and ecclesiastical unity."
As reported, Patriarch Kirill arrived in Ukraine on July 27 on a pastoral visit, which will last until August 5. The visit of Patriarch Kirill began with a prayer service on Volodymyr's Hill in Kiev, where he, in particular, called on God's blessing for Ukraine: "From here, from the Kiev mountains, I call on God's blessing on the God-protected Ukrainian state, on its pious Orthodox people and on all the peoples of the great Orthodox historical Russia. Happiness, God grant, to the people and many, many years!
Fight between supporters and opponents of the Patriarch's visit
Prior to the arrival of the patriarch on Volodymyrskaya Gorka, about 50 supporters of the public organization UNA-UNSO, protesting against the visit of Kirill, fought with 30 supporters of Cossack organizations. Later, UNA-UNSO members poured water over believers during a religious procession in Kiev.
Meanwhile, Minister Counselor of the Russian Embassy in Ukraine Vsevolod Loskutov saidthat the provocative slogans that sounded near Vladimirskaya Gorka in Kiev, where the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill held a prayer service, do not reflect the mood of the majority of Ukrainians.
Source: https://korrespondent.net/ukraine/events/915418-patriarh-kirill-kiev-eto-nash-obshchij-ierusalim