Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, took part in
the Celebration of the 45th Anniversary of Pontifical Consecration
of Blessed Metropolitan
Volodymyr.
Blessed Metropolitan Volodymyr held Divine Liturgy in the square near Assumption Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in the framework of celebration of the 45th anniversary of his pontifical consecration on Saturday.
On behalf of the Assembly, Blessed Metropolitan Volodymyr greeted the participants, handed decorations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to representatives of several episcopates. On the eve of the celebration, he held Anniversary Assembly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and reminded that on October 27, 1990, Bishops' Council of Rus Orthodox Church passed the decision to establish Independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church. On the same day, His Holiness Alexis II Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia signed a Charter, whereby "Ukrainian Orthodox Church shall be independent in its management."
(For
reference: On June 28, 2011, sitting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church was held, the participants of which adopted the decision to
celebrate anniversary of Blessed Metropolitan Volodymyr of Ukrainian Orthodox
Church, arch-priest of future Resurrection Metropolitan Cathedral.
Consecration is the process by which individuals are consecrated, i.e. elected as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies.)