Youth Pilgrimage to Zarvanytsia Was Held
TERNOPIL – The words of the Holy Scripture “Come and follow me” was the slogan of 17th All-Ukrainian youth pilgrimage to Zarvanytsia, which took place on June 25-27. Approximately 12 thousand faithful participated in the three-day pilgrimage, devoted to the year of monastic vocation. Over 2 thousand pilgrims walked from different regions of Ukraine. The Ternopil youth carried the relics of Saint Padre Pio, which were brought from San-Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, reports the Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).
“A record amount of youth came from Ternopil. Over 550 pilgrims registered near the cathedral, in the end there were close to 700 pilgrims were counted in the procession,” noted Fr. Orest Pavliskyj, vice chairman of the Commission on Matters of Youth in Ternopil-Zboriv Eparchy of the UGCC.
Youth, priests, and representatives of monastic communities walked over 60 kilometers from Ternopil to Zarvanytsia. Spiritual leaders shared their vocation stories and priests shared the Holy Sacrament of Confession, and also held spiritual conversations. The pilgrims stopped at every village where prayer services were held to celebrate the holy Padre Pio, and local priests and believers welcomed and entertained the young pilgrims.
In Zarvanytsia the pilgrims welcomed the vicar of the Khmelnytskyj vicariate Father Mitrat Dmytro Kvych, who headed the Divine Liturgy. After the Liturgy the pilgrims walked with candles and the relics of Padre Pio to a miraculous spring, where a prayer service was held and water was blessed. At midnight a concert was held.
On June 27 Bishop Vasiliy (Semenyuk), the eparch of Ternopil-Zboriv, led the solemn Hierarchal Liturgy on a podium near the Zarvanytsia Mother of God Cathedral.
