Rovno, Ukraine, July 11, 2024
On July 7, in the village of Zorya, Rivne (or Rovno) Oblast, a procession of parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place, during which participants prayed for peace in Ukraine, reports UOJ, citing the UOC website citing the press service of the diocese.
The tradition of walking around the village of Zorya in a procession on July 7 began thirty years ago.
“In 1996, we placed a cross at a crossroads in one part of the village. Since then, we have been walking around the village in prayer. This is the pre-harvest period, so we prayerfully ask for God’s help at the beginning of the harvest, to gather a good crop, so there will be no hunger,” commented Archpriest Valery Kapitanyuk, rector of the St. Michael's Church in the village of Zorya.
Many residents of the village, from young to old, participated in the prayerful procession. They carried icons, banners, and sprinkled the village with holy water.
“Throughout the journey, we prayerfully remembered our soldiers, asking for God's protection for them. In the church, we held a service for the cessation of the war in Ukraine and read a kneeling prayer,” said Father Valery.