In Jerusalem Cross Procession on Via Dolorosa with a prayer for Ukraine begins

On April 14 in Jerusalem, Orthodox believers from Ukraine and various corners of the world walk the Via Dolorosa, or the Way of Sorrow, carrying 100 copies of famous wonderworking icons of the Mother of God from Ukraine, reports the Information and Education Department with reference to the Information Center of the UOC.

“Every year, on Holy Friday in Jerusalem they have a cross procession along those streets where the feet of Christ the Savior stepped, Who bore His heavy Cross. The rite of this procession is celebrated every year, headed by His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine,” said Met. Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“‘Along the Way of the Lord in Prayer for Ukraine’ mission is a large-scale procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This procession is a doubly-special prayer for our much-suffering Ukraine,” the hierarch continued. The idea for the mission first appeared in Eastern Ukraine, where war has already continued unabated for three years.

“This is a special prayer that unites Jerusalem and Ukraine. Parishioners of our Eastern dioceses took the initiative for such a procession. His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry blessed this prayer. Icons from all corners of Ukraine are brought to Jerusalem. At the same time, prayers are offered at these icons in northern, southern, eastern, western, and central Ukraine. We, faithful people, place all of our hope in God, and therefore we believe that the Lord, Who suffered during these days in Jerusalem, and the Mother of God, who was present at that, will certainly help,” said Met. Anthony.

Following the Procession along the Way of Sorrow, organizers will present the icons to Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem in his residence on the eve of Holy Saturday, with a request for prayer for Ukraine.

A webcast of the Cross Procession is available on the Facebook page of the Information Center of the UOC.