President of Ukraine Prayed at Holy Mount Athos

GREECE – On June 6, 2010, in the course of his visit to Greece, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych made a pilgrimage to the Holy Mount Athos, reports the website Orthodoxy in Ukraine.

The president prayed at the all-night vigil service and Liturgy in St. Panteleimon's Monastery, venerated the relics of the Holy Hierarch and Healer Panteleimon, and met with hegumen and spiritual fathers of the monastery.    

The pilgrims visited the Iveron Monastery, where they bowed before the patroness of the Holy Mount – the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. At the Vatopedi Monastery the pilgrims from Ukraine bowed before the belt of the Mother of God and the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God Pantanassa.  

During his pilgrimage to the Holy Mount Athos, the president was accompanied by the rector of the Kyiv Theological Schools, Archbishop Anthonii of Boryspil of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate.