Tradition lives on: UOC eparchies hold processions on Baptism of Rus’ Day

The tradition of processions lives on despite persecution! Photo: pravlife

On July 28, 2025, remaining faithful to a longstanding tradition, believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held festive processions on the Day of the Baptism of Rus’. These prayerful marches, with petitions for peace in Ukraine and an end to the bloody war, took place both in major cities and small villages.

It is particularly noteworthy that, despite numerous threats against parishioners, ongoing church seizures, and violent attacks on those defending the holy sites, people were not afraid to publicly declare not only their unity, but also their loyalty to God and to the canonical Church.

It is worth recalling that the All-Ukrainian cross processions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church began in 2016. At that time, around 100,000 pilgrims carrying wonderworking icons set out for Kyiv, forming two columns – one from the east and one from the west of Ukraine, starting from the Sviatohirsk and Pochaiv Lavras. To prayerfully celebrate the Day of the Baptism of Rus’ on Volodymyrska Hill, the faithful spent 25 days on the road, walking 16 to 40 kilometers each day. Despite trials and provocations, the pilgrims reached their goal, meeting with fraternal love and spiritual joy in the cradle of Orthodoxy in Rus’.

Since then, it has become a tradition to hold such processions annually. On July 27, pilgrims from all eparchies would gather on Volodymyrska Hill, led by bishops and clergy. After a moleben (prayer service), the faithful – led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine – would proceed in a cross procession to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, praying for peace in the country. That evening, an all-night vigil would be held on the square in front of the Dormition Cathedral, followed by a festive Divine Liturgy the next morning.

The number of participants grew each year. For instance, the 2021 All-Ukrainian cross procession saw about 350,000 people take part. Unfortunately, with the onset of full-scale war and the subsequent government ban on mass gatherings, nationwide prayer processions in the capital were temporarily suspended.

Yet the tradition itself has not been broken. Clergy and parishioners continue to organize cross processions on the Day of the Baptism of Rus’ in various corners of Ukraine. The faithful pray to God and hold on to the hope that they will soon be able to gather once more in Kyiv, to honor together with their brothers and sisters in Christ the memory of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr – the Baptizer and Enlightener of our land.

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