Kiev, June 19, 2018
Photo: spzh.news About 1,000 faithful joined together in Kiev’s Mariinsky Park on Sunday to prayer for the preservation of Christian family values and the gift of peace in Ukraine, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
During the moleben, the crucifixion standing by the Ukrainian Parliament building began to stream myrrh. The same cross has streamed in the past as well, including May 18 of last year, when about 10,000 faithful gathered to prayerfully protest a number of anti-Orthodox bills that were being considered by the Verkhonva Rada.
This year’s service was headed by the vicar of the Kiev Metropolitanate Bishop Tikhon of Gostomel, with the blessing of Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine. The service was held on the same day as the LGBT “March for Equality” in Kiev.
Met. Onuphry recently released a statement strongly condemning the holding of such event that serves as a propagandizing of sin.
Prayers for the preservation of the Orthodox family were also elevated in churches and monasteries throughout Ukraine on this day.
While the faithful Ukrainians were praying, epresentatives of the LGBT community held their “March for Equality.” The event was attended by several thousand people, including a number of Ukrainian deputies and public figures and several foreign dignitaries, reports Interfax-Religion.
About a dozen protestors ran out in front of the march, trying to obstruct it, but they were removed from the premises by police. About 1,000 protestors also gathered along the path of the march, advocating for the preservation of traditional values, holding posters with Biblical quotes and wooden crosses.
Follow us on Facebook!