Metropolitan Luka of Zaporozhye and Melitopol made a prayer tour of Zaporozhye on October 11, 2022.  The miraculous Samara-Zaporozhye icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and other shrines were transported to the regional center, Hramzp.ua reports.

“War has always been God’s permission for our sins, for our apostasy from God and our violation of His moral laws.  Believers feel that the Queen of Heaven hears us and is always ready to beg forgiveness from Her Son for us.  We believe in the mercy of God and trust in His mercy to us fallen and sinners.  We lift up our prayers to the Mother of God, so that the Lord will deliver us from new hardships, and our hometown from destruction,” – explained the purpose of the automobile procession, Metropolitan Luka.

Throughout the trip, the bishops and representatives of the clergy read the akathist to the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, prayers for protection from the invasion of adversaries and for peace in Ukraine.

The day before, the head of the Zaporizhia diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church addressed the flock with a blessing to perform an akathist to the Intercession of the Mother of God during the detour, “so that She would protect our land from missile strikes, cover us with Her Honest Omophorion.”