All-Ukrainian Cross Procession continues its march in Zhitomir region
July 20, the All-Ukrainian Cross Procession of peace, love and prayer for Ukraine continued on its way to the capital throughout the Zhitomir and Poltava regions. On July 21 pilgrims, who set off in Pochaev, are planning to get to the border of the Zhitomir and Kiev regions, as reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.
On July 20, pilgrims who started their walk from the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra on July 9, covered the distance of 30 kilometers – from Zhitomir to Korostyshev. The Cross Procession began early in the morning: believers, headed by the Archbishop Nikodim of Zhitomir and Novograd-Volynsky went from the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral. The prayerful procession was attended by the prioress of the Holy Assumption Zimnensky Svyatogorsky Convent abbess Stephana (Bandura), abbess of St. Anastasia’s Convent of Zhitomir abbess Michaila (Furmanets), sisters of the monastery and numerous Orthodox believers of Zhitomir.
The clergy and the faithful read morning prayers, a few hymns, sang liturgical chants and made several prayers. All the believers prayed for peace and the cessation of war and hatred in Ukraine. It is reported that "young people and children, older and smaller, all asked the Blessed Virgin Mother of God the heavenly protection and possible assistance."
In Korostyshev the pilgrims stayed for the night at the majestic Holy Annunciation Cathedral. There they prayed at the evening vigil and had a meal. The faithful were welcomed by the clergy of the district headed by Dean Archimandrite Jacob (Shumov). Bishop Nikodim thanked those present for a joint prayer for peace in Ukraine and wished the pilgrims to have a good rest to overcome with a prayer kilometers of the prayerful feat of faith the next day.
July 20, participants of the Cross Procession, who set off from the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra on July 3, walked through the town of Grebenka and reached the town of Piryatin.
At 9:00 Orthodox believers joined in the common prayer for the moleben with the akathist to the Mother of God before Her miraculous icon "Svyatogorskaya" at St. George’s Church of the town of Grebenka. The Rector of the church, the Dean of the Grebenka District Archpriest Basil Tsiko, together with the clergy of the deanery warmly greeted the pilgrims and organized a meal, and the townspeople offered charitable assistance to the marchers.
At 17:00 the pilgrims, having covered about 20 kilometers, were already met in Piryatin. The pilgrims walked solemnly through Europeiska, Soborna and the Heroes of Maidan streets. July 21 morning, the pilgrims prayed at the Divine Liturgy.
