The head of the Russian Orthodox Church will on Wednesday hold a festive liturgy in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia arrived in Ukraine on a pastor's visit on July 20. He has visited the cities of Odessa and Dnepropetrovsk and is now in Kiev. His tour ends on Wednesday, when Ukraine and Russia celebrate the Baptism of Rus Day.
Prince Vladimir baptized medieval Kievan Rus, which comprised parts of modern-day Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, in the year 988. The Russian Orthodox Church, to which the canonical Orthodox Churches in Ukraine and Belarus are subordinate, commemorates Prince Vladimir on July 28.
This year, Russia is marking the date for the first time.
The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine - as well as dozens of Moscow Patriarchate bishops from different countries will participate in the divine service and a solemn procession with crosses and icons to the caves, where the relics of many Lavra saints are kept.
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra was one of Kievan Rus' first monasteries founded in 1051. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the visit, the patriarch called for the resolvement of the split in the Ukrainian Church as soon as possible.
The Orthodox Church in Ukraine split in the 1990s following the breakup of the Soviet Union into followers of the Moscow Patriarchate and those seeking an independent church. The Ukrainian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is recognized worldwide, while the other churches are not.
During his visit to Ukraine last summer, Kirill also spoke of restoring a united Orthodox Church in Ukraine, although the task seemed less likely under western-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko.
The Russian Church hopes that under current President Viktor Yanukovych, who is keen to improve relations with Russia and supports the Moscow Patriarchate, the split may be overcome.
KIEV, July 28 (RIA Novosti)
