The Orthodox Church is the first Christian Church, the Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ and described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Twelve Apostles.

Today her apostolic doctrine, worship, and structure remain intact.
The Orthodox Church is the second largest body in Christendom.
In the twentieth century alone millions of Orthodox Christian have given their lives for their faith, primarily under communism. She is often called "the Church of the Martyrs"
She is the Church of some of history's greatest theologian, scholars, and writers - people like John Chrisostom, Jerome, Augustine.

The beginnings of Christianity in Rus' Ukraine can be traced to the missionary activities of St. Andrew. According to ancient writings, this apostle preached in Scythia, Asia Minor and Greece. In his "Primary Chronicle", Nestor the Chronicler, claims that St. Andrew visit the location of the future capital of Ukraine where he raised a cross and predicted that someday the site would receive many of God's blessings. This prediction did indeed come true in the year 988.

Prior to 988, the process of conversion to Christianity had been slow and sporadic. Only in the ninth century was there a real upsurge in the Christianization of Rus'-Ukraine which gained even more momentum 100 years later. It is known, for instance, that the majority of Prince Ihor's delegation to Byzantium in 944, was Christian since it pledged "by the church of Elias" to fulfill its signed agreements. We also know that Princess Olha (945-960) was the first ruler of Rus' to become a Christian.

Finally, Christianity attained the status of a state religion during the reign of Volodymyr the Great, the grandson of Princess Olha. As a statesman of great foresight, Volodymyr, adopted Christianity throughout his entire realm, and thereby established close spiritual and political ties with many important European states. As the prestige of Rus' Ukraine began to grow, the acceptance of Christian culture stimulated a unique form of church architecture, education and the adoption of just laws. The famous legal document, "Rus'ka Pravda," protecting the basic human rights of every citizen, appeared in 1054.

In recognition of his wisdom and courage, many Ukrainian churches have chosen St. Volodymyr as their patron saint. For Ukrainian people he symbolizes the fact that the Christian faith and Ukrainian nation are inseparable.