Metropolitan Volodymyr Blesses Crew of AN-148 Plane

KYIV – On April 19, 2010, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) received and blessed at his residence at the Kyiv Cave Monastery the crew of a passenger plane AN-148 manufactured by the state company Antonov, reports the website of the UOC-MP.    

The archpastor wished the crew together with its commander Yevhenii Halunenko God's blessing and success in their activity.   

On April 20, a prominent event in the modern aircraft manufacture took place – the passing of the plane AN-148 into operation, which is the first serial aircraft vehicle manufactured domestically.  This plane was blessed by the rector of St. Theodosius Church, archpriest Oleksandr Belokur, who is also the spiritual father of the airmen.