Pochaiv Reserve Administration Contacts Police Over Procession to the Lavra
The reserve administration is asking police to verify whether permits were obtained for a religious procession of several thousand UOC faithful to Pochaiv Lavra.
On August 4, 2026, the administration of the Kremenets-Pochaiv State Historical and Architectural Reserve contacted police with a request to verify the legality of the religious procession and pilgrimage of UOC faithful to Pochaiv Lavra, Ukrinform reports.
The Main Directorate of the National Police in Ternopil Oblast stated that the complaint had been registered in the unified record log. Law enforcement officers are verifying whether the necessary permits and approvals for holding a mass event were obtained.
The director of the reserve, Vasyl Ilchyshyn, claims that the institution's administration did not approve the holding of a religious procession on the territory of the shrine. The Ternopil Regional Military Administration also reported that no requests for approval of a foot procession or events at the Lavra had been submitted to them.
The religious procession of UOC faithful began on July 29 in Volyn Oblast. More than two thousand pilgrims are taking part, accompanied along the route by police officers.
The prayer procession is being made for the feast of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God, celebrated on August 5. On this day, solemn divine services traditionally take place at Pochaiv Lavra with the participation of thousands of Orthodox faithful from various regions of Ukraine.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that authorities in Demydivka banned a UOC religious procession.
