OCA represented at celebration honoring Metropolitan Vladimir of Kyiv and All Ukraine

Bishop Benjamin and Archimandrite Zacchaeus present Metropolitan Vladimir with gift.

KYIV, UKRAINE [OCA/St. Catherine Representation Church]—On Tuesday, November 23, 2010, the Orthodox Church in America was represented at the festal celebrations marking the 75th birthday of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Vladimir of Kyiv and All Ukraine at the Kyiv-Caves Lavra.

With the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, His Grace, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West; Archimandrite Zacchaeus, OCA Representative to the Moscow Patriarchate; and Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko, Secretary to the Bishop of the Archdiocese of Canada, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus; His Beatitude, Metropolitan Christopher of Prague, Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia; Metropolitan Vladimir; and representatives from the other local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Also attending from the OCA was Mr. Barry Migyanko, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Benjamin.

Following the Divine Liturgy, which was attended by the President of Ukraine, Mr. Viktor Yanukovich, a festal meal was held for all guests, during which Bishop Benjamin read the official congratulatory greetings of Metropoolitan Jonah to Metropolitan Vladimir. Later that evening, Metropolitan Vladimir received the OCA delegation at his residence at the Kyiv-Caves Lavra, during which the OCA delegation presented him with a silver pitcher and basin for use during the washing of hands at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Bishop Benjamin congratulated Metropolitan Vladimir and offered sincere gratitude for the possibility of a private reception after a very tiring day.