Cross Procession to Lavra on the Commemoration Day of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostle

Today the Church is celebrating the millennium of the demise of the Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostle. However, according to the church tradition, celebrations on the occasion began yesterday. They began, as expected, with a prayer. 

On Monday morning, a large number of buses with pilgrims from all over began to arrive at the center of Kyiv, the area of ​​. Soon all approaches to St.Vladimir's Hill were filled with people. 

And then, at 14.00 with the blessing of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufry the festive Divine Service began. Thousands of people begged the Holy Prince to pray to God for us. Then, after the enhanced joint prayers of the clergy and the congregation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude read a prayer to St. Prince. On behalf of tens of thousands of Christians who gathered in Kyiv, on behalf of millions of those who could not come to Kyiv, the Primate asked St. Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostle, not to forget about his people and to advocate with the Father. Also, ardent prayers were lifted up to God for the long-awaited peace in . 

After the service the congregation marched in a procession with the cross and the most respected in wonder-working icon of the Mother of God to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. An hour later, in front of the Dormition Cathedral in the , the festive night service started.

It should be noted that each believer, as well as every resident of Kyiv, witnessed some kind of miracle yesterday. Terrible heat, which had been annoying Kyivites the day before, was suddenly followed by a significant fall of temperature and rain. In fact, the rain completely stopped with the beginning of the prayer on St.Vladimir's Hill; and when the procession reached the Lavra, a gentle sun began shining. It seemed to remind everyone who participated in the event, that Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostle, used to be called "Vladimir, the Red Sun". 

Also, all wonder how many Christians took part in the procession. Some channels, hostile to the Church, reported that the faithful were not so numerous (several thousands), and the clergy - no more than 500. However, photos the video of the event, which we lay out online, completely deny these assertions. In general, according to various sources, the estimated total of the faithful who took part in the procession was at least several tens of thousands. 

However, the main thing is not the number of Christians. The main thing is that this procession was held. Our forefathers knew that holding religious processions and participation in them is an extremely effective and powerful tool in the fight against the enemy of the human race. They knew that all external problems take root in internal problems. This means that we must deal with both external sorrows and deep internal conflicts. 

They knew that without prayer it is impossible to change the world. And the most powerful prayer is a joint prayer, which engages both soul and body. That is why our forefathers used to get together in hard times and go with a prayer to a holy place. So they fought against drought, against hunger and cold, and most importantly – against war. We can hope that today's unprecedented cross Procession contributes to the cessation of hostilities in and reestablishment of peace. 

Probably, this isthe Holy Prince Vladimir’s most wanted wish now.

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