Police allow pilgrimage procession into Ternopil region

Priest Maksymian speaking with a police officer who initially refused to let the pilgrims’ cars pass. Photo: screenshot from the YouTube channel Children of Mercy

On August 24, 2025, Archpriest Maksymian Pohorelovskyi of the Odesa eparchy of the UOC recounted the incident that occurred during the pilgrimage at the border of Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil regions.

According to him, a single police officer had decided not to let through more than 100 vehicles carrying the pilgrims’ belongings, as well as women and children who found it difficult to walk independently due to weather conditions and health issues.

Fr. Maksymian emphasized that the decision to block the pilgrimage was not made at the regional leadership level but was the initiative of one individual officer. However, after speaking with the participants, the officer changed his position.

Protodeacon Andriy Palchuk of the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC noted that, overall, law enforcement officers are acting in accordance with the law and are providing escort and security for the procession.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that at the border of Ternopil region, authorities blocked 100 cars of the pilgrims heading to Pochaiv.

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