Events to mark Christianisation anniversary move from Ukraine to Belarus

All of the bells of Orthodox Christian churches across Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus rang for 15 minutes at 12 p.m. local time on July 28 to mark the anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus.

The celebrations marking the Christianization anniversary began in Kyiv on July 27, attended by Putin, Yanukovych, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, and representatives of nine Orthodox churches, RFE/RL informs.

An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people were expected to participate in an open-air religious service in Minsk as part of events marking the 1,025th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus. The service on July 29 was conducted by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill.

Belarusian Metropolitan Filaret and other Orthodox luminaries are also participating in the service held on the site of the remains of the oldest Orthodox church in the Belarusian capital. After the service, a memorial plaque was placed at the site to mark the anniversary.

Let us recall that Grand Prince Vladimir the Great accepted Orthodox Christianity in 988, converting the medieval Slavic state Kievan Rus and laying the Orthodox foundations of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.