Donetsk, April 17, 2015
On April 16, 2015, a cross procession from Russia arrived at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Donetsk. Participants of the procession, “For restoration of peace in the lands of Donbass”, brought a memorial cross with portions of saints’ relics with them, reports Donbass Pravoslavny.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion of Donetsk and Mariupol the relics at the cathedral were received by Bishop Varsonofy (Barsanuphius) of Novoazovsk, Vicar-Bishop of the Donetsk Diocese, as well as the city clergy. A Paschal service of intercession was celebrated in front of relic-crosses and all the worshippers venerated the holy objects.
According to the event’s organizers, the procession of the cross was held with the blessing of Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin). A small portion of the Precious Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of Christ is embedded in a specially made cross, while portions of relics of several dozens of saints are inside a reliquary made in the form of an ancient cross. With the blessing of Schema-Archimandrite Iliy, the cross procession started in March this year – on the Sunday of the Cross during the Lenten fast.
“Orthodox believers – Russians and Ukrainians alike – set their hopes on the help of God in resolution of the present military conflict and the genuine reconciliation of the opposing parties. The main thing is that people should not die, that peace should be maintained, and that the conflict — imposed from outside – should not grow into a global war that may lead to a catastrophe for both of our nations,” noted Hieromonk Makary (Macarius) from the Skete of Greatmartyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki, who accompanied the cross procession.
