Metropolitan Nicholas to Travel with Ecumenical Patriarch to Kiev
July 24, 2008
JOHNSTOWN, PA - His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas has been invited by His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, to be part of a Patriarchal Delegation to Kiev, Ukraine to attend the festivities of the 1020th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus, which will take place from July 25-27, 2008.
His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I received an invitation to the celebration from His Holiness, Patriarch Alexei, and from President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko.
In addition to His All-Holiness, it is expected that delegations from throughout the Orthodox world including the Churches of Russia, Greece, Georgia, Albania and the Czech and Slovak Lands.
According to the RISU news service of the Ukraine, the schedule of events for the celebration beginning on Fri July 25, 2008 is as follows: (Please note previously the news service inaccurately indicated the events would begin on July 24, 2008)
25 July 2008
10.00
am - 11.00 am ( 3:00 am - 4:00 am EST)— Solemn ceremony of meeting in
Ukraine Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (Boryspil Airport).
Live
broadcast on the channels Inter, 1+1, ICTV, First National, and 5, and
other national and foreign tv channels. Channels have the possibility
to receive the direct broadcast signal through the Ukrtelekom network.
11.30am
- 12.00 pm (4:30 am - 5:00 am EST)— The president of Ukraine and
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I visit the Kyivan Monastery of the
Caves.
12.15
am - 12.45 am(5:15 am - 5:45 am EST) — Ceremony of placing flowers at
the monument to Princess Olha, Cyril and Methodius, Andrew the
First-called, and St. Volodymyr.
4.30
pm - 5.30 pm (9:30 am - 10:30 am EST) — The president of Ukraine and
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I meet heads of the delegations of
foreign churches (Secretariat of the President of Ukraine).
6:00
pm - 7.00 pm ( 11 am - 12:00 pm EST) — President of Ukraine Viktor
Yushchenko and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I take part in a
vespers service at St. Sophia’s Cathedral on the occasion of the
celebration in Ukraine of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of
Kyivan Rus.
Live broadcast on the channels Inter, 1+1, ICTV, First National, and 5, and other national and foreign tv channels.
26 July 2008
11.00am
- 1:15pm ( 4:00 am -6:15 am) — Ceremonial events at Sophia’s Square on
the occasion of the celebration in Ukraine of the 1020th anniversary of
the Baptism of Kyivan Rus.
Live broadcast on the channels Inter, 1+1, ICTV, First National, and 5, and other national and foreign tv channels (part I).
1.30 pm - 2.00 pm
(6:30 am- 7:00 am EST) — Panakhyda (memorial service) for those who
died in the famine of 1932-1933 with the participation of President of
Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and
representatives of Orthodox churches of the world will conduct the
panakhyda.
Live broadcast on the channels Inter, 1+1, ICTV, First National, and 5, and other national and foreign tv channels (part II).
4:30 pm - 5.30 pm
(9:30 am - 10:30 am EST) — Ceremonial opening of the gallery of
portraits of noted activists of Ukraine, the presentation of jubilee
coins and postal stamps (Center of Business and Cultural Cooperation,
Ukrainian Home).
8.00
pm - 9:30 pm (1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST)— Ceremonial reception in the name
of the president of Ukraine and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
(national monument Sophia of Kyiv).
27 July 2008
8.30
am - 11.00am (1:30 am - 4:00 am EST) — Festive celebration near the
Monument to St. Volodymyr on the occasion of the celebration in Ukraine
of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus with the
participation of President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko. Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I and hierarchs and representatives of Orthodox
churches of the world will conduct the Liturgy.
Live broadcast on the channels Inter, 1+1, ICTV, First National, and 5, and other national and foreign tv channels (part II).
