Zhytomyr faithful honor icon of the Mother of God of Podol with cross procession along the main streets of the city

September 5, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church prayerfully commemorates the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Podolsk, which is located in the Zhytomyr Holy Dormition Cathedral. On the occasion of the feast the festivities and celebrations took place in the regional center, reports the press service of the Zhytomyr diocese.

The Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral was led by His Eminence Simeon, Metropolitan of Vinnitsa and Bar. It was attended by the priests of the whole Zhytomyr diocese, as well as the most faithful of the regional center and guests from different regions, towns and villages. During the Divine Liturgy, the bishops, the clergy and the faithful unanimously offered prayers for peace, tranquility and the end of the war in Ukraine.

After the completion of the main part of the holy Eucharist many pilgrims began to take the holy Body and Blood of Christ, previously confessed.

A long tradition of the feast is not only limited to the service. After the Liturgy at the Cathedral the participants went in a large cross procession along the main streets of Zhytomyr to the Transfiguration of the Savior and the Holy Cross Cathedrals. During the procession the bishops made a lity in the central square of the city near a memorial plaque to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes. Together, they prayed for heavenly peace and the forgiveness of sins of those who laid their lives for the Motherland.

At the Holy Cross Cathedral the Gospel and prayer for peace in our country were read. Metropolitan Simeon congratulated those present on the feast of the Mother of God of Podol and the Dormition Day and called on the faithful and priests to return in a cross procession to the Dormition Cathedral, praying all the way for peace and tranquility in Ukraine, ask the help of Christ and his Blessed Mother.

Already on the porch of the episcopal Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God Bishop Simeon thanked the faithful and the clergy for prayer and participation in the procession and called on all God's blessings.