Solemn ceremony of consecration of the Knyaz Vladimir cruise liner was held in Sochi on May 27, 2017.

The consecration of the vessel was led by the secretary of the Yekaterinodar and Kuban diocese, Archpriest Ilya Bystrov, who is also in concelebration in the Sochi, Adler and Lazarevskoye deanery and clergy of Sochi.

Upon completion of the service the clergy affused with holy water all premises of the nine-deck vessel, which includes cabins, the engine space, the captain's bridge, the caboose etc.

Archpriest Ilya Bystrov blessed the vessel and its crew with the icons of St Nicolas the Wonderworker, the patron of mariners, and the icon of St. Vladimir Equal to the Apostles after whom the vessel is named. The icons of saint patrons will remain aboard the vessel to guard against and protect its passengers from bad weather and calamities.

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is famous all round the world for his kindness and generousness. He is the closest aid for mariners and travelers from the ancient times because he protected them many times in the hour of need.

The consecration of the vessel is a special event for mariners. The Russian Imperial Fleet administered a solemn prayer service in the presence of high-ranking noblemen, generals and admirals, and sometimes in the presence of the tsar himself or members of the imperial family. During the prayer service followed by raising the flags – the emperor's banner, St. Andrew's colors astern and the jack staff, the clergyman affused with holy water and blessed them.