Before the evening service, Metropolitan Vladimir’s body was moved to the Dormition Cathedral.
His Beatitude’s body will remain in this cathedral until the funeral service.
People greeted the coffin on the square outside the cathedral with flowers and tears. Near the entrance to the cathedral there was a very long line.
Valentina, a parishioner, said: “This person tried throughout his entire life to preserve what is ours and Ukrainian: our religious foundation, our Ukrainian local church.”
Tatiana, a parishioner: “For us this is a great spiritual loss. He was our guide in life. This is all so very hard. When I found out in the morning, I was just hysterical. He was a profound person with deep faith and great soul.”
Vladimir, a parishioner: “We will pray for this person. We have a lot to think about. We probably have very few such people today.”
The last respects continued inside the cathedral. Then a litiya was served for the soul of Metropolitan Vladimir.
Archpriest George Kovalenko, press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, stated:
“Tomorrow, on Sunday, everyone will be able to remember His Beatitude, Metropolitan Vladimir. Tomorrow a Liturgy will be served, which will be headed by the Locum Tenens of the Kiev Metropolia. Then a Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be held. The Holy Synod will determine the time of the funeral service, as well as the burial place of Metropolitan Vladimir. The date of the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be determined that will elect a new Primate of our Church.”
