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29.07.2008, [20:04] // Inter-Christian relations // RISU.ORG.UA

Kyiv—The Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) eagerly desires the return of schismatics, said Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Rus. "Our Church eagerly desires that its children, who unwisely went far away, should return to the parents’ home. But it should be carried out according to the unshakeable canons of the Church," said Alexis II at Ukraine Palace in Kyiv at a celebration for the 1020th anniversary of Baptism of Rus.

According to the Patriarch, it is possible to avoid further divisions only through such conditions.

According to unian.net, the head of the Russian church reminded that in 1992, the Ukrainian Church was granted the right of self-government comparable to the rights of autocephaly (independence) and "successfully carries out its ministry in the complicated conditions of the development of the Ukrainian state."

The patriarch thanked the heads and representatives of the local Orthodox Church of the world who came to Kyiv to participate in the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of Baptism of Rus."

At the same time, Alexis II noted that "those who seceded from the Church seek to use even the smallest crack in that solidarity to show support for one or another local Church…All this, first of all, harms the schismatics themselves, as they are given a chance to justify their sin instead of repenting," added patriarch Alexis.

The Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Volodymyr, thanked the Patriarch for his visit, joint prayers, and celebration of the jubilee of the Baptism of Rus and asked him to come to Ukraine more often to get acquainted with the needs of the people and share its joy.

During the conclusion of the events at the Ukraine Palace, the patriarch was given a large bouquet of orange roses from the Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

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03 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)