Friends!

Friends! Today, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Remembrance of the Equal-to-the-Apostolic Prince of Kyiv Volodymyr and the Day of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus - Ukraine.

The future prince of 954 was born in Kiev. The period of his reign was long - 35 years - from 980 to 1015 years.

Among all the reforms of the state carried out by Vladimir, one of the most important was the religious one. In 988, Volodymyr accepted Christianity from Byzantium and introduced it as a state religion. Despite this, according to various sources, Christianity on the lands of Russia appeared long before Vladimir was baptisted. But the general Christianization of Kievan Rus meant its entry into European civilization.

Religion became an impetus for the development of education and culture: the schools began to open, the main temple of Russia - the Tithe Church of the Virgin (996) was built in Kyiv.

In those days, thousands of faithful arrived in Kyiv to take part in the Divine Liturgy and the procession to the monument to Prince Vladimir, despite the storm. Among them - military chaplains and ATO fighters.

Friends! On this important day, it's worth remembering that spiritual unity is an important foundation on which the state holds on. Therefore, we must always hear each other, respect the choices of other people, treat them kindly and with understanding. Congratulations on this date and I wish you have a sincere faith inside!