Patriarch Kirill Refuses to Celebrate Baptism of Rus Anniversary with Patriarch Filaret

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill will not come to the ceremony celebrating the 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Rus in Palace Ukrayina in Kyiv, if the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate head, Patriarch Filaret, is present, secretary of the Department for External Church Relations for inter-Orthodox relations Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk said in a comment to Kommersant-Ukraine.

"For Patriarch Kirill it has become a tradition to come to Kyiv when the church celebrates the baptism of Rus. He does not intend to abandon his plans this year. But he will definitely not be present where there will be the so-called Patriarch Filaret," said the priest.

"Patriarch Kirill is a guest here, and it is strange that a guest imposes his own rules and chooses whom he meets, when it comes to government events," says Secretary of the Holy Synod of the UOC-KP Archbishop Yevstratii (Zoria).

He said that Patriarch Filaret is ready to attend events where the Primate of the ROC will be present.

The preliminary date of the celebration of the 1025th anniversary of the baptism is July 26. A ceremony will be held on this day with the participation of President Viktor Yanukovych. The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Filaret (Denysenko), who is part of the organizing committee for the preparation of the anniversary celebration, will also be present.