Thousands join cross procession to Bancheny Monastery
Several thousand pilgrims are taking part in a prayerful procession to the Holy Ascension Monastery on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
On May 20, 2026, UOC faithful set out on the annual cross procession to the Holy Ascension Bancheny Monastery.
The pilgrims are walking the route as a prayerful labor ahead of the monastery’s patronal feast – the Ascension of the Lord. Laypeople, clergy, and families with children are taking part in the procession, with communal prayers offered along the way.
This year, several thousand people are participating in the traditional procession, which was established by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Chernivtsi Eparchy had earlier announced the cross procession to Bancheny Monastery. The tradition of this pilgrimage took shape many years ago and each year gathers thousands of believers from Bukovyna on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension.
