Thousands celebrate 1030th baptism anniversary of Kyivan Rus (VIDEO)

Priests along with believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate participate in events dedicated to the celebration of the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of the Kyivan Rus, a medieval eastern Slavic princedom federation, on July 27.

The Moscow Patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church has more than 11,ooo parishes in Ukraine. In contrast, its main rival – the Kyiv Patriarchate – has only a little more than 2,700 parishes. In 1992, Moscow refused to recognize the Ukrainian church’s independence.

Metropolitan Onufriy (Berezovsky) of Kyiv and all Ukraine, who participated in the celebration, was enthroned in Kyiv as head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) back in August 2014. During the ceremony, he was accompanied by allies of Russian-backed and ousted ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych — Vadim Novinsky, Oleksandr Vilkul, Nestor Shufrych and Yuri Boiko.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is accused of indulging in luxury and being a sphere of the Kremlin’s influence as eastern Christianity has maintained close ties with the state.