Johannesburg, July 29, 2013
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On July 28, 2013, the feast-day of Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, the festive events dedicated to the 1025th anniversary of Baptism of Russia took place in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Johannesburg, reports the parish's website.
After the Sunday Divine Liturgy, the Church's Rector Priest Daniel Lugovoy celebrated the thanksgiving service "For all blessings that have been occurring in Rus’ from ancient times and to this day".
Then opening of the exhibition devoted to Baptism of Russia took place in the premises of the parish center. The exposition, at which photographs of ancient icons, the first books in Slavonic and items of Church art were represented, was prepared with active participance and support of the representation of the Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian Cooperation) in South Africa. Opening the exhibition, the Rector Fr. Daniel told those gathered about the main points of this historic event and good consequences of the volitional decision of Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, noting that this day was especially significant in the history of presence of Russian Orthodoxy in South Africa, as the first Russian parish on the south of the African continent was opened in 1952 exactly in honor of this Holy Prince.
The ambassador of the Russian Federation in South Africa M.I. Petrakov, the ambassador of the Belarusian Republic A.L. Molchan, staff members of diplomatic representations of Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, numerous parishioners and guests of the parish took part in the festive events.
