The Party of Regions Leader Viktor Yanukovych halted his vacation in order to participate in the festivities dedicated to the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus. This landmark in the history is of special value for the heart of every orthodox believer. And we have felt it quite well during an interview with Viktor Yanukovych on these holidays.- Viktor Fedorovych, what does the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus means to You as a politician, statesman, just a believer?- I am fully confident that the greatest event, the Baptism of Kyivan Rus, the 1020th anniversary of which we are celebrating on these days, is not just a glorious date in the history, not just a holiday. It is the holy and ever-burning light which beams our hearts and lives through ages, calls us for Good, Mercy, spiritual unity.
Here, on the banks of Dnipro River, a great event occurred, which changed the Eastern Slavs' life, a Church was founded, which became a basis for the Eastern Slavs' civilization. And which has been functioning for 1020 years, God be thanked.
This event became a turning point in the history of Kyivan Rus, which gave rise to its spirituality and state power.
Orthodox Kyivan Rus enriched the world with the deeds of its saint devotees and sages and with unique treasures of its culture.
It is important for all of us to realize the fact that precisely Kyiv has become one of the spiritual centers of the orthodox civilization, another capital of the modern orthodox world.
Our political force actively participated in the preparation for celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus. You know well that the Party of Regions considers all-round support of Orthodoxy, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as one of topical and fundamental program issues.
The Party of Regions, preparing for such a great holiday for all Orthodox Christians, conducted a large-scale All-Ukrainian action embracing divine services and sermons, as well as concerts of famous artists practically in all regional centers of Ukraine.
The public organization "1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus", which we had established, became the initiator and coordinator of the action.
Being blessed by Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine Volodymyr, All-Ukrainian religious procession was carried out for celebrating the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. It was attended by thousands of orthodox believers of Ukraine. The religious procession crossed regional towns carrying the relics of Grand Prince St. Volodymyr, Equal-to-the-Apostles, from Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and main shrines from the monasteries of Ukraine. Therefore, believers could kiss the shrines, pray right during the religious procession. They did not need to go to Kyiv for this purpose.
I think that we have achieved the goals of the action which we set before ourselves – to show the unity of Ukraine and remind about spiritual unity of the Slavic people.
We were welcomed both in the East and in the West of the country.
I am convinced: we succeeded once again to impel the Ukrainians, especially young people, to think over their roots, their past, the necessity of reviving spirituality and unity.
- Viktor Fedorovych, we know that You have met His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II more than once, but this time both the day and reason for a meeting were special. Therefore, probably, You have special feelings, do not You? - First and foremost, I would like to say from the bottom of my heart: we are happy to welcome His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II as the supreme arch-pastor to the Ukrainian land on the days of celebrating the 1020th anniversary of the significant event in our common history – the Baptism of Kyivan Rus. A visit of such high level beams even more considerably the great and glorious date celebrated today by the Orthodox.
It is difficult to overestimate the role which is played by our supreme arch-pastor – His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II – in developing and asserting the Canonical Orthodoxy, how much he makes for the faithful. I will give only one example.
In 2004 a truly historic event both for Ukraine and for the whole Orthodox world took place – Svyatogorsk Lavra of the Dormition was blessed and sanctified.
The appearance of another Holy Lavra in Ukraine showed in the most persuasive way how fruitful can be a union between the state and the church.
Svyatogorsk monastery was rebuilt with the state's assistance and received its current status of Lavra with support and participation of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. And today stern and brave land of Donetsk region, as well as the whole Ukraine, is sanctified with the light of Svyatogorsk Lavra.
I am firmly convinced that the participation of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II in the festivities dedicated to the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus will give a new spur both to strengthening of the Orthodox faith and consolidation of ever-lasting spiritual unity and unbreakable brotherly friendship among all Slavic people, the people of Ukraine and Russia.
- During these days a lot was said about the merge of churches, creation of a single church in Ukraine. What is Your attitude towards it?- I think that our Orthodox Church has enough wisdom stored through ages to lead its ship in right direction with God's help.
Nowadays precisely the Orthodox Church can give a mighty moral and educational impetus to our society, enhance the connection between generations and revive the spiritual origins of the national culture as a part of the single Orthodox Christian culture.
No doubt that the future of the Orthodoxy in Ukraine lies in the merge. But at the same time, it is important to keep such historic peculiarities of our faith and our church as collegiality and tolerance. We should travel the path to unity being guided by traditions and thoughts of believers, not defying their rights and principles.
Please believe me, an Orthodox, a committed Christian, that today it should become a holy aim of all public establishments. In my point of view, the role and mission of the modern Ukrainian state in its relationship with the Church is to help, but not to impose.
However, this task cannot be achieved without participation and help of the entire Orthodox Church.
Our common goal is to create such conditions under which the State and the Church would be equal partners in doing Good.
The understanding of the Church, its support and holy blessing are important for us.
- Every person has a place on Earth, which is especially close to them. For You it is probably Svyatogorsk Lavra, is it not? In fact, You made so much for its reconstruction...- There are two places close to my heart as you put it. Primarily, it is Nikolskoe, Nikolo-Vasilievskiy monastery of the Dormition, a chapel with the grave of father Zosima. This chapel has already become a sacred place of the monastery.
And, certainly, Svyatogorsk Lavra is particularly close to my heart. And both these places are interconnected.
Precisely in Nikolskiy father Zosima blessed me for participating in the renewal of Svyatogorsk monastery and granting Lavra status to it.
Father Zosima said to me about it for the first time in 1997. At that time, as you may remember, Artem sanatorium was functioning there at its full capacity.
Father Zosima told me about importance of the reconstruction of the cloister in Svyatogorsk and underlined: "Viktor, this has to be done. I bless you for taking up the restoration of Svyatogorsk monastery. Every attempt should be made so that there would be Lavra. And Slavyanogorsk should be renamed Svyatogorsk".
I started renewing Svyatogorsk monastery in 1997. Think of the fact that it was the time of reconstructing churches... In fact, by that time Donbass resembled a desert with ruined and neglected temples, churches, monasteries. During the whole period of our stay in the Donetsk region, my team and I restored and built a lot of churches.
We reconstructed the monastery with God's help. And thereafter, in 2002, with the blessing of His Beatitude Volodymyr, the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine, I went to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II for his benediction over granting Lavra status to the monastery. It was far from being simple. Last time Lavra status was granted hundreds of years ago! Nevertheless, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II has helped. And in 2004 with support and participation of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II the event historic for both Ukraine and the whole Orthodox world occurred – Svyatogorsk Lavra of the Dormition was blessed and sanctified.
Definitely, a great deal of work is still to be done. But it is crucial so that the holy light of Svyatogorsk Lavra would beam both the Donetsk region and Ukraine, and be a pillar of the Orthodoxy.
- Many young people took part in preparation for celebrating the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. What do You think, will this anniversary enhance the connection between generations?- I am fully confident of it, I firmly believe in it. It seems to me that it is the main outcome of the actions we held during preparation for the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.
In fact, the most important thing is that this holiday has united the generations – both senior and young people.
Roughly speaking, we do not have such holidays. One generation pursues its ideals and celebrates its dates. The other – completely another.
And this holiday reverts us to our origins, deep roots, which are identically appreciated by both senior and young people.
You know, when the modern world suffers from numerous challenges and threats, it is very important to offset the ideas of violence with ideas of love, faith and spiritual dialog.
And here the role of the Orthodox Church is invaluable. Precisely it has been a key factor of the society's development and perfection.
We appreciate the role of the Orthodox Church as a mighty factor of spiritual perfection of the society, upgrading its moral, responsibility for the present and forthcoming generations.
And I am deeply convinced that nowadays the Orthodox Church can give a powerful moral educational impetus to broad public layers, and primarily, to the youth.
The recollection of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus and other glorious landmarks of our great history fills us with renewed resolution to cherish and multiply our common spiritual legacy kept up by the Orthodox Church. And we should understand and remember it forever.
"Kyivski vidomosti" newspaper, 31.07.2008
