Thousands join cross procession to Bancheny Monastery
Cross procession to Bancheny Monastery. Photo: UOJ
On May 20, 2026, UOC faithful set out on the annual cross procession to the Holy Ascension Bancheny Monastery.
The pilgrims are walking the route as a prayerful labor ahead of the monastery’s patronal feast – the Ascension of the Lord. Laypeople, clergy, and families with children are taking part in the procession, with communal prayers offered along the way.
This year, several thousand people are participating in the traditional procession, which was established by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Chernivtsi Eparchy had earlier announced the cross procession to Bancheny Monastery. The tradition of this pilgrimage took shape many years ago and each year gathers thousands of believers from Bukovyna on the eve of the Feast of the Ascension.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.