You're reading: Patriarch Kirill wants Orthodox Church unity maintained

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia conducted a religious service on the square inside Kyiv's Caves Monastery on Thursday to celebrate the Day of Holy Baptism by the Apostolic Great Prince Volodymyr in 988.

Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, and Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk helped the head of the Russian Orthodox Church conduct the service, which was attended by thousands.

After reading the Gospel, Patriarch Kirill addressed the worshipers who were gathered on the monastery square, stressing the importance of maintaining unity within the church.

"If a split occurs within the church, it does not mean that someone has been tempted by some sinful or wrongful idea, it means that love has been lost because love is the only force capable of uniting people. It means that pastoral care that comes from the head of the Church – our Lord and Savior – has been lost," he said.

Any division inside the church indicates "the spiritual state of people, not the strength of the church administration," Patriarch Kirill said.