Cross procession of thousands held on Sunday of Orthodoxy in Rivne

On March 8, on the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, the Rivne Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held the eighth annual cross procession, which, according to experts, was attended by more than 7,000 believers, reports the UOJ correspondent.

Three hours of unspeakable joy during the joint procession and prayer ended with a large-scale performance of the modern hymn of Orthodoxy "Faith is eternal, faith is glorious, our faith is Orthodox."

“Every year, there are more and more people who want to take part in a cross procession. I had the opportunity to communicate with people and they all unanimously say that they have been waiting for this special day all year,” comments Bishop Pimen of Dubno, the vicar of the Rivne Diocese of the UOC. “Of course, I cannot but note that the split that occurred after the granting of the so-called Tomos to Ukraine contributed to our cohesion and unity. In the procession I saw believers from all the parishes which were affected by the OCU church raiding.”

Traditionally, the procession went from the Holy Resurrection Cathedral of Rivne to the St. George Metochion of St. Nicholas Convent. The column was led by well-known local cross walkers, who every month at night time go around the city with prayer to protect it from evil. They were followed by those that carried festively decorated icons of the Rivne diocese, which everyone could revere at the end of the prayer service.

On the territory of the monastery, believers performed a prayer service.

As the UOJ reported, on the Day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in Odessa, a multi-thousand citywide cross procession was held.