Patriarch Kirill visits Ukraine on Chornobyl anniversary

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church will arrive in Kyiv on Monday for a three-day trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy, the Kyiv Post reports.

Most events from the patriarch's visit schedule will fall on April 26.

On the night of Tuesday, Patriarch Kirill will hold a service for the victims of the Chornobyl disaster in the church complex located in Darnytsia District of Kyiv. After the service, at 1:23 a.m. (the time when an explosion occurred at reactor number four) he will ring the Chornobyl bell. This will be the beginning for the memorial events in Ukraine.

The same day, Patriarch Kirill will visit the St. Elijah Church, the only church operating in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. The patriarch will lead the Easter service, hold a prayer for the dead at the Chornobyl power plant, and visit the monument to Chornobyl heroes there.

On Tuesday, Kirill will meet with patients and volunteers working with the patients of the National Cancer Hospital.

In addition, the patriarch will attend the opening of the conference dedicated to the understanding of the outcomes and lessons of the Chornobyl catastrophe.

On Wednesday morning, Patriarch Kirill will celebrate a divine liturgy at the Kyiv Cave Monastery, and then he will return to Moscow.