When Perseverance in Faith Makes the Impossible Possible

The season of religious processions to the Pochaiv Lavra has begun. Numerous believers from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, —with various sources citing numbers ranging from several hundred to thousands of participants—have set out from across the Volyn Oblast to Pochaiv to arrive in time for the feast of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God, which is celebrated on August 5.

Here’s what’s interesting. Ever since the “COVID” years, every effort has been made to ban this religious procession. Local councils issued one absurd ban after another on the movement of Ukrainian citizens within Ukraine, hired “titushki” set up roadblocks, and so on. However, this year—take note—none of that is happening! The police are calmly escorting the procession from city to city, regional deputies are “keeping their mouths shut,” and pro-OCU activists seem not to notice that a column of “hated MP supporters” is moving through the towns and villages of Volyn.

What happened? Could it be that the pilgrims have found mysterious patrons in the corridors of the Presidential Office or the Regional State Administration? Not at all. It’s all down to the perseverance of ordinary believers, which drives them forward regardless of any external circumstances. These people simply love God, the Mother of God, and their Church so deeply that, in the words of the Apostle Paul, nothing can separate them from this love: not COVID, not the Tomos, not even war.

Apparently, the authorities simply grew tired of opposing these masses and decided that there was simply no point in “butting heads” with them—it was better to let them proceed in silence. And this, by the way, is a lesson for many.