Today, February 22, the 7th All-Church Pilgrimage of Monasticism began in Zaporizhia, attended by more than 120 consecrated persons from different parts of Ukraine. Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy, head of the Patriarchal Commission on Monastic Affairs and Bishop Stepan Menyok, exarch of Donetsk, are taking part in the pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage began with the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Volodymyr the Great in Zaporizhia, led by Bishop Stepan Menyok, Exarch of Donetsk with Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy co-serving him.
In his homily, Bishop Stepan shared his dream: "I dream that consecrated persons will come to Donetsk one day, where together we can praise God and thank Him for freedom."
According to him, the prayer of even one consecrated person has extraordinary power. That is why monks should not have the fear which worldly people may possess. "We must always remember that God is over us," the bishop said.
Bishop Stepan admitted having reflected on why the war broke out in Donbass. "I realized that this is necessary for a person to rethink their lifestyle and realize who she is and where her homeland is. Only then the situation in society can change, "he said.
The Exarch of Donetsk also shared his concerns about how few vocations of consecrated persons to serve in eastern Ukraine we have today. "Eastern Ukraine needed this pilgrimage of monasticism. Try to pray for our Ukraine during these two days, here we are the closest to the border. That prayer that you will offer to God in upcoming days will be a defensive shield for all of us,” Bishop Stepan urged the UGCC monks.
On the occasion of the pilgrimage and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Patriarchal Commission for Monastic Affairs, the Father and Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav awarded Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy with a patriarchal certificate.
Subsequently, representatives of monastic communities marched in a solemn procession through the streets of Zaporizhia from the Church of St. Volodymyr the Great of the UGCC to the Roman Catholic sanctuary of God, the Merciful Father.
The pilgrimage of monasticism continued with a prayer to God the Father in the sanctuary of God, the Merciful Father and a conference on social service, the keynote of what was speaker Fr. Andriy Nahirnyak, Deputy Head of the Department of Social Service of the UGCC.
The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Patriarchal Commission for Monastic Affairs begins with this 7th All-Church Pilgrimage of Consecrated Persons. The event will last for two days - February 22-23.