23 November 2013, marks the 78th birthday of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev on All Ukraine. Metropolitan Hilarion, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, arrived in Kiev with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to take part in the celebration.
Metropolitan Vladimir officiated at the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas’ church, while Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Laura of the Caves together with Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, abbot of the Laura, and the assembly of bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
After the divine service, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated all the worshippers with Metropolitan Vladimir’s birthday and conveyed them the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The bishops proceeded to the residence of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to take part in the honouring of His Beatitude. Metropolitan Hilarion conveyed greetings and presents from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Metropolitan Vladimir.
Source: DECR