Moscow, July 16, 2018
Photo: travelever.com The main event for the upcoming celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ will be an open-air Divine Liturgy on the Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin, Patriarchal press secretary Fr. Alexander Volkov said on Saturday, reports Interfax-Religion.
This will be the first time such a Liturgy outside is ever served at the Moscow Kremlin.
“Previously, services were always celebrated in the cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin. Services have never been held on the Cathedral Square before. Because a very large gathering of people—up to several thousands—is expected on this day in the heart of our country, in the Kremlin, it was decided to hold the service under the open sky on Cathedral Square,” Fr. Alexander explained.
The Divine Liturgy on July 15/28 will be celebrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, after which a festive procession of bishops, clergy, and numerous laypeople will go from the Kremlin to Borovitskaya Square, where a monument to St. Vladimir was installed and consecrated in 2017. There, a moleben of thanksgiving will be served, followed by a concert.
“For the whole fullness of our Church, it is extremely important to remember this key historical choice of Prince Vladimir, made more than 1,000 years ago, that defined the whole religious, cultural, and public life of our country and all countries that entered into St. Vladimir’s baptismal font,” Fr. Alexander said.
Celebrations on the occasion of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ will also be held in all dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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