The programme of the 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Kievan Russia /An appeal to Presidents/
Lvov (Ukraine), 3 March 2013
President of Russia V. Putin President of Ukraine V. Yanukovych President of Belarus O. LukashenkoDear Presidents, Vladimir Vladimirovych, Viktor Fedorovych, and Olexandr Grygorovych, this year we commemorate the 1025th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity through the baptism of St. Vladimir in Kiev. The year 2013 is a milestone in the history of our nations.
Spiritual preparation for the jubilee is to begin in a few days:
1st period: Great Lent (18 March – 4 May) – contemplation of Christ’s suffering
2nd period: Easter Sunday (5 May) – Pentecost (22 June) – contemplation of Christ’s resurrection
3rd period: Pentecost (23 June) – Feast of St. Vladimir (28 July) – contemplation of the Holy Spirit
The culmination of the jubilee: Saturday evening (27 July) and Sunday (28 July)
The celebration of the anniversary will culminate on the eve of 28 July. Every Saturday night we commemorate the glorious resurrection of Christ. The renewal of baptism and celebration of the seventh day – the day of Christ’s resurrection – is the foundation of spiritual, moral and political resurrection of our three nations.
On Saturday at 7 pm, a ceremonious procession shall walk through the City of Kiev. A group of monks at the head of the procession shall carry a triumphal cross. They shall be followed by a horse dragging a wooden statue of Perun along the ground up to the Dnieper River. This happened 1025 years ago. Perun was a symbol of paganism, which included magic, divination and human sacrifices to demons. The horse shall be followed by a float carrying 5 symbols of demons like a tumbrel. The first one will symbolize the demon of gender ideology and moral perversion. The second one will represent the demon of juvenile justice connected with child kidnapping and child abuse. The third one will symbolize the demon of euthanasia, drug abuse and alcoholism. The fourth one will represent the demon of chip implantation involving the number of the beast (666). The fifth one will stand for the demon of the antichrist. Representatives of the antichrist are above all churchmen who adopted heresies and the spirit of neopaganism.
The float shall be followed by a procession of political representatives, the clergy and the people. When the procession reaches the Dnieper, all will participate in a rite of the renewal of baptism between 8 and 9 pm. A short address will explain the nature of the event: an act of renouncing demonic powers and receiving Jesus Christ as one’s Saviour, Lord and God through the renewal of baptism.
Perun shall be cast triumphantly into the Dnieper like 1025 years ago. The five exhibits shall be symbolically bound together and set on fire. The ashes likewise shall be poured into the Dnieper with great fanfare.
TV channels should broadcast the event to all households in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. If the national renewal of baptism will be celebrated between 7 and 9 pm in Kiev, it will be 8-10 pm in Moscow and 3-5 am in Vladivostok. Let all Christians, too, renounce the spirit of neopaganism and renew their baptismal promises.
Dear Mr Presidents, the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate hereby addresses You as heads of three Slavonic nations with a request. On behalf of Your nations, make the same act as Saint Vladimir 1025 years ago. Each of You shall choose 3 assistants. The twelve of You shall descend into the Dnieper. By the act of immersion You shall renew the baptism in the name of Your peoples.
The renewal of baptism shall be broadcast by television to all families of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. At the moment of immersion, all who will watch Your representative act shall make a sign of the cross three times in token of the renewal of their baptism.
The celebration of baptism shall continue on Sunday, 28 July, in all Christian churches of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. After the Divine Liturgy, let all Christians take to the streets and celebrate joyfully in all towns and villages.
The historic act of the renewal of baptism will have an impact not only on the spiritual but also political and economic sphere.
Praying for You,
+ Elijah
Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
+ Methodius OSBMr + Timothy OSBMr
Secretary Bishops
Copies to: MPs of Ukraine; Members of the State Duma of the Russian Federation; MPs of Belarus; Mass media of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus